November 24, 2025 by Haley Hammer (‘29)
Friendsgiving, a widely celebrated tradition, has grown significantly since the term was coined in the early 2000’s. If you are unfamiliar with the tradition, it is simply sharing a Thanksgiving meal with your friends rather than your family. While now Friendsgiving is roughly celebrated by 20% of all Americans, there is one show that helped put it into the spotlight.
The popular TV sitcom Friends that ran in the mid-90’s centered around the characters Monica (Courtney Cox), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Pheobe (Lisa Kudrow), Ross (David Schwimmer), Chandler (Matthew Perry), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), portraying the ‘average’ experience spending your adult years in New York City.
Friends produced a Thanksgiving episode for almost every season of the show. In each one, the group ends up staying in the city for a variety of reasons and celebrating together, often leading to unforgettable chaos.
Some of the most memorable scenes came from this show’s Thanksgiving specials from funny or messy moments to heartfelt conversations. Although, despite the chaos within the episode, the friends gather around the table for a meal happy, and expressing gratitude for their friendships.
The word “Friendsgiving’ was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2020, roughly 13 years after the first published use of the word on Twitter in 2007.
But why has Friendsgiving stuck? Why has this shows version of a thanksgiving differ from any other? What makes it so memorable? It’s because of its sincerity, it makes us as the viewers relate to its realness.
These episodes captivate the characters’ imperfections, from burning turkeys, showing up late, and yelling at each other, they all come to unity around a dinner table. It shows how in life even if there is hardships, friendships can always be a true form of support and come with even new traditions.
In honor of these amazing episodes, I am going to share 3 of my favorite ‘Friends’ Thanksgiving specials.
- “The One With the Football” (Season 3, Episode 9)
- “The One With Chandler in a Box” (Season 4, Episode 8)
- “The One Where the Underdog Gets Away” (Season 1, Episode 9)
If you’re looking for a TV show to watch on Thanksgiving, I would highly recommend revisiting the Thanksgiving specials of friends and spending time with the people you love.