Potluck

A potluck is a communal gathering where each guest or group contributes a different, often homemade, dish of food to be shared.

Other names for a "potluck" include: potluck dinner, pitch-in, shared lunch, spread, faith supper, carry-in dinner,[1] covered-dish-supper,[2] fuddle, Jacob's Join,[3] bring a plate,[4] pot-providence and fellowship meal.

The modern execution of a "communal meal, where guests bring their own food", most likely originated in the 1930s during the Great Depression.

[6] Some speakers believe that it is an eggcorn of the North American indigenous communal meal known as a potlatch (meaning "to give away").

[7] The only traditional rule is that each dish be large enough to be shared among a good portion of the anticipated guests.