Is Fakesgiving the New Friendsgiving? Short answer... not exactly. In the past decade or so, there has been a new unofficial holiday gaining traction. It’s called Fakesgiving and it's basically Thanksgiving but instead of November, it can be celebrated basically anytime you want. Although, I've seen leanings towards March as being the ideal time to plan. This post may contain affiliate links.
And if I was in charge of picking a date for it.. I mean why not? I would choose the first Saturday in March to celebrate Fakesgiving. It would be somewhere directly in the middle of Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day and basically far away from actual Thanksgiving. Yet just far enough away from Easter. Kind of gives you something to look forward to after the post-holiday season lull.
I originally became smitten with the idea of Fakesgiving when the Covey's celebrated it in the To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You movie. Absolutely adore the movie series on Netflix. They made celebrating it a yearly tradition which honors Lara Jean's mom who is no longer with them. More on that later.
HOW TO CELEBRATE FAKESGIVING
Ready to celebrate Fakesgiving? While info is hard to come by when it comes to this offbeat holiday, I have plenty of info for you to help you plan a festive Fakesgiving celebration for years to come. Before you get overwhelmed, just know that it's as easy as simply eating a Thanksgiving meal on any other day than Thanksgiving. You can make it more or less if you like. If you know me, I'm gonna be a little extra about my at-home festivities. 😛
Let's take a look at how this holiday has evolved, including when it started and everything you need to know about this new holiday.
SO... WHAT IS FAKESGIVING?
Fakesgiving is a celebration of the concept that you can celebrate family and gratitude any day. It's not just about waiting until November, it doesn't even have to be in September or October.
Fakesgiving says that you can sit down with your loved ones any time for some good old-fashioned fun (and dessert) anytime because this holiday is all about making it your own.
To sum it up, it's the act of celebrating Thanksgiving ANYtime.
Get a printable list of more fun offbeat holidays to celebrate with kids.
THE HISTORY OF FAKESGIVING
So, when did Fakesgiving become a real thing? There are plenty of theories that this new holiday was started by millennials who had to work on Thanksgiving, which is one of the biggest holidays of the year. So, they decided to create their own holiday (Fakesgiving) where they could celebrate when they wanted.
However, I've seen tracings of it online from over a decade ago, so this concept isn't new. Not only is the origin of Fakesgiving a bit unclear, but when it actually became a thing is also a bit fuzzy. However, I found plenty of information to help you understand what this unofficial holiday has become and ideas on how you can celebrate it for years to come.
FAKESGIVING IN TO ALL THE BOYS: P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU
"It's like regular Thanksgiving, but it's in March. It's a family tradition."
Lara Jean's Dad {Dr. Dan Covey}
In the movie To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, the Covey's tell the backstory about how their annual Fakesgiving celebration came to be while enjoying their meal around the table.
The heartwarming story explained how Dr. Dan Covey (Lara Jean's Dad) met her (now passed) mother back in college. To honor her memory, they made a tradition of celebrating a Fakesgiving in March where they ate traditional Thanksgiving food AND a can of green beans.
Back when Dr. Covey (Lara Jean's dad) was in college, he was invited to a dorm room Thanksgiving Potluck in the middle of March. While everyone else brought a homemade holiday dish, he literally brought a can of green beans.
Eve (Lara Jean's Mom) teased him about bringing the can of green beans which ended up being her way of flirting. Fast forward and his silly can of green beans became the start of their tradition of celebrating Fakesgiving as a family for years to come, but sweetly also the explanation of the start of their romance.
Eve thought it unfair that the two best holidays were at the end of the year… and thought they should break it up throughout the year.
In the movie, the Covey's Fakesgiving table was filled with traditional Thanksgiving fare with the addition of the canned green beans and brussel sprouts (that nobody seems to like, but they serve anyway.)
Takeaway tradition to try from the Coveys?
Newcomers to the Fakesgiving celebration have to eat the canned green beans.
MAKE FAKESGIVING A TRADITION
So, what does Fakesgiving look like? Well, it's pretty simple. You can celebrate this new holiday whenever you want. The best part? Fakesgiving is not just for families. This is a great opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors over to celebrate the end of summer. Think Friendsgiving vibes here. You can even plan Fakesgiving around Labor Day weekend or right after, depending on when you want this unofficial holiday to take place. Although there are no hard-and-fast rules to Fakesgiving, there are some traditions I suggest sticking to when planning this new holiday celebration. Let's take a look at the traditions.
- Start by saying what you are thankful for, which is important in all ways of celebrating Fakesgiving.
- You could play board games, do community service together, or even try your hand at cooking for this new holiday celebration.
- Tell your guests why they were invited to celebrate Fakesgiving and that you why you think it's a fun tradition.
SURE, BUT WHY CELEBRATE FAKESGIVING?
We get it. You might be thinking: "Sure, but why?" Why not just stick with Turkey Day alone or do something for Friendsgiving? Celebrating a Fakesgiving away from Thanksgiving and Christmas can be great for those that normally have trouble getting time off of work during the holidays.
Pesonally, I love the idea of celebrating away from the more stressful and busy holiday season. That's right; Fakesgiving actually acknowledges and recognizing issues in planning and feeling more relaxed.
If you love Thanksgiving and every aspect about it - from the food to family memories made around that dinner table so why not switch gears to add a Fakesgiving to your yearly celebrations?
I mean, you don't have to wait until November which makes this one of the best holidays ever, in my opinion. You get to spend quality time with friends and/or family over copious amounts of food, colorful decorations, and excellent conversations.
TIPS FOR PLANNING A FAKESGIVING CELEBRATION.
While there aren't too many rules when it comes to Fakesgiving, which is the best part.
But, here are some helpful tips if you decide to bring the holiday into your own life. Consider this the ultimate guide to planning the best Fakesgiving. Let's start by decorating and then we will chat about food.
HOW TO DECORATE FOR FAKESGIVING
Decorating is a huge part of any holiday? Get some fun plates, napkins, and table runners to help you set the scene for a night of nothing but good times.
Since Fakesgiving is just an up and comer, there really aren't any ready-made themed party supplies available.
However, tapping into some creative options will help.
- Pick a color theme. I always start here and work my way up. Before shopping, I look around my house for items that I can use to decorate such as candles and small decorative pieces. For my F-day celebration, I chose various shades of purple and gold paired with hints of white and green.
- Decide what you will use for plates, cups and utensils. I have a white dish set, so I used that instead of purchasing something new. Then, I added a gorgeous Two-Toned Gold and White Utensils to make the settings pop. I also used some dollar store plastic drinkware that I had on hand and standard white fancy napkins from the grocery store. For a final touch, I placed a Fakesgiving cookie on each setting. More on that below.
- Make your own party banner with a Cricut. I'm no genius, but it was fairly simple to create my own Friendsgiving Banner hack using my Cricut Explore Air 2 and some gold glittered cardstock. You can also custom ordering banners on Etsy.
- Create your own balloon arch with a kit or hire someone local. I'm obsessed with Fuller Amusement's Balloon offerings here in Ocala, Florida. If you live local, definitely recommend!
- Add matching flowers to your Fakesgiving table. My pretty flowers are from Bella Flowers Designers in Ocala, Florida. If local, I recommend calling to talk about your ideas to ensure you get exactly what you want.
- Tablescape seem too plain? Try a table runner. It adds SO much flair. I used this Gold Table Runner for mine.
- When in doubt, add succulents. These cute Mini Faux Succulent Picks were the perfect touch for my table.
- Use a variety of loose ribbon to add whimsy to your table. I gathered a variety of matching ribbons to tie around my utensils and also used them around the table and to decorate my tiered serving tray for an added pop of pretty matching colors. This Gold Leaf Ribbon was my favorite. I also used some pretty ribbons from a couple of Trim Bundles from Michaels that I've had on hand. Having some on hand is always perfect for random projects that I come up with.
If you are planning a last minute party, I also have a ton of tips to help.
What time should I start?
You can start enjoying Fakesgiving anytime you want. It's not just a dinner thing - it can be a whole day that begins with appetizers then moves into a big meal and back around again. If you want, start your Fakesgiving at 10 am, and then just keep eating throughout the day! No judging!
Fakesgiving is an unofficial holiday so celebrate it however works best for you and those around you.
WHAT TO EAT ON FAKESGIVING?
What's a party without some tasty eats? When it comes to food and drinks for Fakesgiving, it's really up to you. That is really the beauty in it. You get the make the rules.
I love the idea of doing traditional Thanksgiving comfort foods. Maybe with a little twist to try variations of classic recipes you want to switch up. Here are some thought-starters.
- Classic Thanksgiving Foods
- Trendy versions of your favorite Thanksgiving foods
- Potluck where everyone brings a dish to share
FAKESGIVING RECIPES
Green Bean Casserole with a Biscuit Crust
FAKESGIVING DESSERTS
Make or order Fakesgiving Cookies from a local baker. I purchased mine custom from Steph's Sweets Boutique located in Ocala, Florida.
ORDER FAKESGIVING DINNER
Alternately, you might want to treat everyone to a pre-cooked meal. There are a number of online options, I was pleasantly surprised with the Turkey meals available through Harry and David.
For our celebration, we had Create Your Own Turkey Feast. where you get a whole turkey and get to pick your additional selection to create your best meal. It's not homemade, but might do in a pinch.
If you want to go out with a bang with a stellar dessert, check out some of the crazy amazing options on Gold Belly.
Check out this Levee High Caramel Pecan Apple Pie, oh my.
Get $25 off your first order at Gold Belly.
FAKESGIVING PROMOTES TOGETHERNESS
While Fakesgiving is an unofficial holiday, it's a great way to stay connected with friends and family during these crazy times.
Over the last couple of years, I've shifted focus to making magical moments with family and friends at home. It's been truly wonderful and I wouldn't have it any other way. What a blessing in disguise.
When life gets hectic, we have two choices: find solutions and embrace it or give up on everything. I choose to celebrate what's important and make new traditions.
Fakesgiving is a holiday that isn't centered only around turkey or stuffing, but more so on the people who are no longer able to join in on those family traditions for whatever reason.
It's a time to celebrate the people, not just the food. Take time to show gratitude and appreciation for the blessings we have.
It's a time to show people they matter and that you're thankful for everything they've done. There isn't just one person in my life who I'm thankful for either: it's everyone.
And after all this, if you still need inspo, Kitty in To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You movie says fakesgiving is ALL about the potatoes. So start there and build on the fun.