Thanksgiving is a time known for celebrating gratitude with family, accompanied by indulgent holiday foods such as stuffing, mashed potatoes, and the iconic turkey. It is also a season of gathering with friends to enjoy each other's company, eat delicious foods and share stories; with this, there was born and popularized: “Friendsgiving”. Here at Trinity Hall, the Cultural Club embraced the season of giving thanks and hosted their second annual Friendsgiving. Members of the club were encouraged to bring in their favorite holiday treat and reflect on what means most to them.
In just 25 minutes, the Cultural Club was able to maximize the time and include everything that a Friendsgiving entails. The Commons tables were pushed together to arrange a family-style table, which united members across all four grades.
“I loved being able to spend time with my friends talking about what we appreciated this year. As much as Thanksgiving is about being thankful for my family and all I have, I am so happy I could share my gratitude with my school family!” said Kendall Fitzgerald ‘25.
In addition to traditional Thanksgiving sweets, foods from other cultures were brought in for members to enjoy. Since Trinity Hall is a community passionate about all types of food, every shape, size and taste, this was a highly anticipated gathering for all of the Cultural Club attendees. Treats like marshmallow sweet potatoes, pigs in a blanket, eccentric bread and an abundance of desserts were featured. Not only was it a good time to snack, but it was also a moment to absorb the room full of gratitude and appreciate the opportunities in which students at Trinity Hall are provided.
While students indulged in treats, upperclassmen took turns sharing family traditions as the microphone was passed around. Storytelling gave members the chance to learn about one another and share traditions. Friendsgiving was a firm reminder of how it does not matter how one observes Thanksgiving as long as they are with the ones they love most and are expressing gratitude.
Without the dedication of Katie Hanlon ‘24 and Nan Sperber ‘24, leaders of Cultural Club, this event would not have been possible. They work hard to make all members feel valued, embrace culture and diversity, and plan events for students to become immersed in other cultures.
“Friendsgiving was an amazing experience for the Cultural Club! The food that everyone brought in represented a wide variety of Thanksgiving traditions. It was an awesome way to bond with the club members and learn about other cultures through a fun feast,” said Nan Sperber ‘24, part leader of the Cultural Club.
The second annual Cultural Club Friendsgiving was a great success in bringing members together, sharing food and traditions, while commencing an end to the Thanksgiving season.