Getting Through Fakesgiving

Fakesgiving is a unique holiday that was invented during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic as a way of bonding with loved ones during that challenging time. It was created by Gabriel McCraken as a way to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family before November. It gained public attention when featured in the Netflix film To All The Boys Out There: P.S. I Still Love You to honor a character’s passing. The basis of the holiday is creating a mock Thanksgiving in a more relaxed setting. There are very few rules to follow and the point is to have fun and enjoy time with loved ones. The official date is May 30th, but you can celebrate it at any time of the year. Here are some ways to celebrate Fakesgiving.

The Food

This is the main event of any good Fakesgiving. Most people who celebrate this holiday often serve dishes that are traditional for Thanksgiving. This includes, but is not limited to, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and green bean casserole. Even though turkey is the official bird of Thanksgiving, Fakesgiving has none. So, serve whatever meat or non-meat dish you wish. If having people over, ask them if they have any dietary restrictions or allergies so you can plan your menu around this so everyone has something to eat. Don’t forget to end your feast on a high note with cake or pie. If you don’t feel like cooking an enormous meal, turn it into a potluck event.

Entertainment

Have plenty of fun activities available to keep your guests amused for hours. Make some “Guest” Bingo cards at https://myfreebingocards.com/mfbc. Dust off the board games to have an old-fashioned game night, or have guests bring their favorite board game. Have the guests bring their favorite movie for a movie night. If it is warm outside, consider adding outdoor activities like corn hole or football to your event. Karaoke is a fun activity enjoyed by all ages. If your party is all people over 21, consider making up a safe drinking game for the night. Google or Bing is an excellent source for coming up with activities for your Fakesgiving.

White Elephant

Another fun activity to have during your Fakesgiving would be a White Elephant gift exchange. These are often a hilarious and memorable experience. First, you’ll want to let each guest know about it so everyone can have a gift. Gifts are often quirky and novelty items. To add an extra element of fun, make it a theme. Set a price limit of $20 or less to prevent people from going overboard and buying outrageous items. Have each guest wrap the gift, but leave off their name to keep it anonymous. Put them in a giant pile in the middle of the group. Have each guest take a turn grabbing and unwrapping a gift. After everyone has one, go around and ask if that guest would like to keep it or exchange it with another guest.

Making A Tradition

Since Fakesgiving is a new holiday, this would be a time to create new family traditions that can be passed down from generation to generation. These create fond memories of your loved ones that they will treasure for the rest of their lives. Organize a show-and-tell session based on the theme you created for the White Elephant gift exchange. Have each guest wrap their favorite book in brown paper and write a vague, terrible description of it on the front. At the end, have everyone pick a book to take home. Before the feast, consider volunteering at a charity to give back to your community that you are thankful to live in. The possibilities are endless.