Thanksoweenmas
| Thanksoweenmas | |||||||||
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| Part of Planet Propaganda traditions | |||||||||
Planeteers celebrating the First Thanksoweenmas (at a time when smartphone cameras left room for improvement), 2013 | |||||||||
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Thanksoweenmas is a hybrid holiday celebrated exclusively by the employees and various associates of Planet Propaganda, a creative agency on the shores of Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin. It is typically celebrated on or near October 31 (Halloween) during an extended lunch hour. Thanksoweenmas is an original portmanteau representing a celebration that combines Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, with a potluck meal of Thanksgiving and Christmas food, and a soundtrack of Christmas music.
History
The first Thanksoweenmas was held in 2013, and was inspired by a freelance developer who was working on two holiday cooking-themed promotional websites for a packaged spices client. After spending weeks looking at mouth-watering holiday food photography, he announced that he was going to bring in a roast turkey and hoped others would contribute side dishes and beverages.
Once additional Planeteers were on board, the event was branded Thanksoweenmas, since it was being held near Halloween, and would feature Thanksgiving and Christmas food inspired by the spice brands’ campaigns. From there, flourishes like a Christmas music playlist were added to the event plan.
For a couple more years, the Planet Propaganda team continued to work on new holiday campaigns for this client. When that partnership ended, the Planet team continued to hold an annual Thanksoweenmas event on or near Halloween day, with the latest event being held on Thursday, October 27, 2022.
Notable Celebrations
Over the decade of annual celebrations since the First Thanksoweenmas, the format has stayed true to form, though some variations occur.
2016
Did store-bought rotisserie chickens replace a home roasted turkey this year? Yes. Was that the biggest catastrophe of late fall 2016? Depends who you ask.
[Year Unknown]
An overly-ambitious Planeteer signed up early to bring a homemade pie. As the event approached, they crossed out their overly-ambitious entry and replaced it with “rice.”
2018
Elements from additional holidays were integrated into the celebration. Plastic Easter eggs were hidden around the office and filled with St. Patrick’s Day treats, Sweethearts candies, and small prizes.
2019
In a move that some called blasphemy and others welcomed, a box of Popeyes fried chicken and sides appeared on the buffet. Note: a turkey was still served that year.
2021
After Covid concerns prevented the 2020 event, Thansksoweenmas returned in full force. One new addition was a pour-over coffee bar, where Planeteer and coffee roaster Jayson Moyer served his proprietary Solace Creek Coffee blend as a proper digestif.
References
- Recollections of Thanksoweenmas attendees
- Planet Propaganda Instagram account
- Sage Santa Speaks
- Highly Classified records from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
