Friendsgivings for many are just a pre-party to a still family-centric holiday, but the trend also mirrors shifting lifestyles and demographics in the U.S.

Urbanization, delayed marriage and delayed childbearing over the past few decades have reshaped social connections and personal obligations. Many young, single adults move to cities where they work, make friends, pay off college debt, date on apps and wait longer to settle down.

Journalist Ethan Watters has argued that tight-knit friend groups of these young adults — or “”urban tribes” — are replacing family. Some city-dwelling adults may prefer to spend Thanksgiving with their tribe rather than relatives.

“Lots of people who live in cities moved away for a reason,” University of Toronto professor and urban theorist Richard Florida told Axios. “There is a pull and a push… maybe they ‘can’t’ go home” for Thanksgiving.