Unscientific Survey: Thanksgiving Plans
Stop the presses! People are dialing back their Thanksgiving plans this year!
I know, that’s pretty obvious, but we thought it would be interesting to get a more precise sense of what Swarthmoreans are doing, hence our latest Unscientific Survey.
It showed that a majority (about 53%) of respondents are planning to celebrate by themselves or only with their immediate household, while about a third will share the holiday with others, and 15% still aren’t sure.
Not surprisingly, an overwhelming majority of those having a social Thanksgiving will be with relatively small groups. Maybe the one surprising thing is that as many as 15% reported planning an old-fashioned Turkey Day, sitting down with six or more friends and family members from outside their households.
Readers’ comments showed a palpable apprehension about this treasured holiday. Here’s a sampling:
“With no national plan to control the pandemic, I feel each of us must control our own destiny and, thus, no holidays this year.” –Betty
“We plan to travel to our daughter’s house, but as the cases keep rising we may decide to just stay home.”
“Staying home, son coming for six weeks (Thanksgiving to New Year’s).”
“Our Thanksgiving will be a ThanksGoToMeeting.”
“Yearning to have our two daughters here with us. Undecided about wisdom of plan.”
“Having our nephew, his girlfriend, and their new baby over for dinner, so it’s actually 2.1 guests.” –Rich Machlin
“Cancelled plans with one other family when the infection rates started climbing.”
“Maybe seeing my parents, who are not in my household, but we have visited them multiple times safely, as we all have been safe and tested several times.”
“The only non-household member will be my 86-year-old mother, who we are collecting by car so she does not have to fly.”
“Not traveling. Not risking exposure even to family members.”
“This is the year to stay put if ever there was one! (I’m abandoning hope of traveling for Christmas, too.)” –Julia Welbon
“All eight of us at Thanksgiving are in the same ‘bubble’ but not the same household.” –Elizabeth Ainslie
“Love Thanksgiving … our tradition is it’s the holiday we get to spend by ourselves. This year’s menu — meatloaf shaped like a turkey with all the sides! Hate turkey!”
“Standing Thanksgiving dinner invitation cancelled. Small amount from that dinner getting together at my house.”
“Will be Zooming with family across multiple households and states.”
“We will travel to Connecticut to spend with ailing parents, one of whom just received an extremely grim cancer prognosis.”
“While we would love to see our kids, we are waiting until it is safe for the nation to do so — even if that means waiting until 2022.”
“Last year was a Thanksgiving of my dreams. Am happy by myself this time.”
“We three will be having a small turkey and FaceTiming with the family.” –Judy McCarthy
“We’ll keep an eye on the numbers, and we might even have everyone test the week of Thanksgiving, just to be sure.”
“We will be celebrating with my husband’s parents, who have left the house only once or twice since March. Even though they are in a different state (Ohio), they are effectively part of our ‘pod.’ If both our households hadn’t been so strict about precautions this whole time, we would not be going.” –Eugenia Tietz-Sokolskaya
“No travel for us this year, a total of four will attend dinner at my home. Hopefully next year!” –Lisa Brodeur
“Giving thanks for this wonderful community we have in Swarthmore. While we will miss traveling, we know the safest thing we can do for loved ones is not to be with them — as hard as that is.”
