The Official Meetup HQ Blog

Happy Thanksgiving!

by Tegan

In the US, today is Thanksgiving -- a day to gather with the important people in your life, share great food, and be mindful of all of the wonderful things for which one has to be thankful. 

So all of us here at Meetup HQ want to take this opportunity to thank you, the Meetup Community, for all of the great things you do to make your communities better.

Just look at all of these fantastic Thanksgiving Meetups:

American expats from London to Perth to Bangkok will be gathering this week to celebrate the holiday with fellow Americans far from home. 

Today, the Greater LA Veggie Hikers are working up an appetite with a pre-Thanksgiving hike together, while the The Seattle Vegan Meetup Group is getting together for a turkey-free feast.

Meetup Groups like the Great Southern Humanist Society are coming together to provide food for the less fortunate.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Meetup Groups everywhere are making the world a better place, one Meetup at a time.

Thank you for all of the wonderful things you do!

Tegan is on Meetup's Community team.

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Happy Howl-oween!

by Kate

You knew it was coming: a cute blog post rife with puns, featuring dogs in Halloween costumes.

There is an annual Halloween pup pawrade in New York City's Tompkins Square Park, and the New York Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Meetup attends with their ghoulish droolish companions.

Their Meetup on October 24th coincided with the event as usua l, and I found lots of great photos uploaded from their 2008 haunt, such as these boo-tiful poochies dressed as a hot dog and another as a piñata!

We'd like to wish everyone a terrifically fun and safe Halloween, whether human or hound!

Kate is on Meetup's Community team.

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Eid Said!!! Happy Feast!

by Emeline

Ramadan took place this year from August 21 until September 19, and I am thankful to have experienced some of celebration while living in Cairo, Egypt for the past few months.

Each evening during Ramadan, when it was time to break the fast, tables would appear all over Cairo, and anyone could come and grab a seat and break bread together. 

I decided to look around Meetup, and see what has been going on in the past couple weeks. I see the London Muslim Meetup took the chance to Meetup and break fast together last week:

"I'm looking forward to eating/sharing with you all on a Ramzaan evening - hope all your dreams, wishes, aspirations and prayers are answered as we make the most of the Ramazaan season - Thank you!"  -Shagufta

In Orlando, the Muslim Women for a Cause Meetup came together to break the fast as well:

"I had a really great time! It was so nice to see new and old faces." - Shelly

As Ramadan comes to an end, now is the time of the feast, which lasts for three days. The New York City Progressive Muslim Meetup Group kicked off the feast by reflecting and joining together in prayer.

"Every year more people come and make the Eid spirit even greater." -- Pudina

And this Saturday, you could also join friends for a cookout in the park with the LA Arabic Language Meetup. 

If you are looking to work on your Arabic and or study the culture (like me!) you should check out your local culture Meetup Group like the NYC Int'l Arabic Language & Culture Social Club. There might be a Meetup Groups about Islam, Arabic Language, or Middle Eastern Music near you!

This is a time of year that is meant to unite families and friends with the spirit of charity, peace, and hospitality. It's great to see all the fantastic communities coming together all around the world on Meetup! The sense of community that I saw and experienced in Cairo was enviable: My life will forever be changed because of it, and I look forward to going back someday.

Emeline is on Meetup's Community team.

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