Depending on your in-laws or your uncles, this might be your best holiday season ever.
Fewer families plan to travel to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas together due to the coronavirus pandemic. Even those who were originally planning large family celebrations are warier of doing so than they were last month, according to a recent poll. Nearly 71% of people in the United States now believe that there is a large or moderate risk associated with “attending in-person gatherings of friends and family outside your household,” the Axios-Ipsos poll found. That’s a 9-point increase since this time last month.
There is a reason for their concern. Hospitalizations in several states are increasing rapidly, and much of the country is experiencing a surge in positive cases that cannot be completely explained by increased testing. And given recent studies that prove family gatherings contribute to the spread of the coronavirus, cautious people are right to downsize.
This is a huge sacrifice for many, especially those who live across the country from their mother, father, brother, or sister and rarely get to see them. For others, it’s a mercy: no fights with your social-justice-warrior nieces, no embarrassment at Uncle Brad’s overindulgence in merlot, and no awkward questions from Aunt Jennie about why you’re not dating anyone.
For those who have decided to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas as they normally would, don’t worry: The holidays have always been a dangerous time of year, even without a global pandemic. Binge-drinking incidents skyrocket around this time each year, and any medical professional will tell you that deep-fried turkey accidents make up a good chunk of the hospitalizations they see on Thanksgiving Day. So, what’s a little more risk, right?
Either way, the holiday season is bound to be unforgettable. Those who choose to stay home and celebrate with immediate family only will experience a much more intimate setting that might just make this year’s Thanksgiving the most meaningful yet. And those who choose to gather with their loved ones for Christmas will do so knowing that familial connection is one of the best cures to this year’s many woes. As with anything, it’s all about perspective.
