Last week, a colleague in our group chat posted a poll about dates. The idea was to gather on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, each bringing a dish to share. The title was just one word: Friendsgiving.

When I first heard this term after moving to the U.S., I thought it was just a joke someone made up. But every November, I started seeing this word in grocery store flyers and on the windows of local wine shops.

So this time, I decided to dig deeper. When did this culture of sharing turkey with friends instead of family begin?

First, looking at the word itself, it's much younger than you might think. The Merriam-Webster dictionary dates its first recorded use to 2007.

According to the dictionary, it first appeared in Usenet posts and on Twitter in 2007, used to refer to casual meals with friends without a specific definition. A short greeting from a December 4 Usenet post is cited as a representative example.

The term gained national attention in 2011. Baileys Irish Cream used it in an advertising campaign, and that same year, it was a major theme in The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

According to NPR, Google search volume spiked that year, and it continued to rise every year throughout the 2010s. So, one alcohol ad and one reality show helped elevate a holiday, showcasing the power of marketing.

Now, it's officially listed in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. A term that started with a single line in an internet post has made it to the dictionary.

However, while the word is new, the gatherings themselves are much older. Scenes of people gathering to share holiday meals when they can't go home to family have appeared on TV since the 1980s.

A notable example is the Cheers episode titled Thanksgiving Orphans. It aired on NBC on November 27, 1986, which was Thanksgiving Day.

The story revolves around regulars without a place to go gathering at Carla's house for a potluck, and it became a topic of discussion because it was one of the few episodes that took place almost entirely outside the bar. The conclusion involves a chaotic food fight.

And we can't forget Friends. From 1994 to 2004, every season included a Thanksgiving episode.

However, there's no evidence that Friends created this term. Still, it's clear that it planted the idea in a generation's mind that friends can be family.

It's easy to understand why this term spread in our time. Many young people live away from home for college or work, and traveling home for Thanksgiving can be quite challenging.

This is just my interpretation, but I think there's also a strong desire to enjoy meals with comfortable people without the burden of family gatherings. Many people want to avoid the tension that can arise from political discussions at the dinner table.

So nowadays, it's more of an additional event rather than a substitute. People still have their family Thanksgiving and then gather with friends the following weekend.

This year, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26. So, Friendsgiving is often scheduled for the weekend before, around the 21st or 22nd.

The format is usually a potluck. The host takes care of the turkey or a main dish, while others bring sides, desserts, and drinks.

I feel this structure is similar to an Avengers team-up. It's nearly superhuman to handle the turkey, stuffing, and pie all by yourself, but if everyone takes one dish, the meal comes together.

When Korean friends gather, the menu gets interesting. Japchae sits next to the turkey, and kimchi finds its place beside the cranberry sauce. Last year, someone brought galbi, which disappeared faster than the turkey.

Colleagues commuting on Metro-North often find it tricky to shop in Manhattan, so they frequently buy pre-made pies from local stores. That's perfectly fine.

If you're invited for the first time, just remember to bring a few things. Let the group chat know what you're bringing in advance to avoid duplicates.

If you're bringing food that needs to be heated, it's polite to ask if there's space in the oven first. The turkey is likely to be occupying it.

And bringing a container for leftovers will genuinely be appreciated by the host. The next day's turkey sandwich is a bonus.

Looking back, this culture didn't emerge from some grand tradition. It's the result of a single line in an internet post in 2007, an ad in 2011, and decades of TV showcasing friends at the dinner table.

Still, I quite like this new holiday. I think it suits immigrants with families far away even better.

This year, I'm in charge of the mashed potatoes. My mission is to peel the potatoes and guard the spot next to the turkey.

This month, why not post a date poll in your friends' group chat?