The Holiday Season officially starts at Pitsgiving

November 8, 2024

by Betsy Chapman

In this Issue: we talk about Pitsgiving, our Thanksgiving celebration

Pitsgiving (named for our main cafeteria, The Pit) is Wake Forest’s version of Thanksgiving. It happens the week before Thanksgiving, so this year it will be on Thursday, Nov. 21 in the Pit.

This is your students’ time to get their fill of turkey, stuffing, mac and cheese, ham, green beans, and all the traditional fixins, plus pumpkin pie and other great desserts. I don’t have this year’s exact schedule yet, but typically Pitsgiving runs at both lunch (usually 11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and dinner (usually 4-7 p.m.). Once I get actual times, I will share.

Pitsgiving is one of my favorite days on campus. Students actively plan for Pitsgiving: they create strategies and schedules within friend groups/student organizations to see who can arrive at The Pit first to claim a table big enough for their needs. When the Pit first opens, it’s sort of like what I imagine the Oklahoma land rush was like – everyone is trying to grab their piece of real estate. Some intrepid students add tablecloths, flowers or other decorations, fun napkins, etc.

Our amazing partners in Deacon Dining do more than just cook great food, they create a lot of hype and excitement. In the past, there have been final countdowns to the doors opening at the start of lunch or dinner. The Demon Deacon might make an appearance 🙂 Students may find themselves the recipient of the much-coveted I LOVE THE PIT t-shirt.

Pitsgiving is a loud, crowded, energetic experience. It is abundant in both food and joy. And I assure you there are a lot of naps taken after Pitsgiving.

I don’t know if any of you celebrate “Friendsgiving – where you have a Thanksgiving meal with your closest friends who are like family to you. Well, Pitsgiving has that same spirit: your Deacs get to share a Thanksgiving meal with friends, and as each year passes, they may get to do Pitsgiving with different friend groups as their networks grow and expand.

Here’s some pictiures from Pitsgiving 2023 (click to enlarge). The joy of this day is real. And it’s coming soon, Deacs!