More people than I realized don’t do traditional Thanksgiving. I never noticed this before. I seemed like everyone I new did. My family, my peers at work and most of my friends all got together with family for a Thanksgiving dinner. Occasionally I’d hear of someone who was on their own for the holiday. Usually they had an invitation to join a friend’s family for dinner. A few even joined mine some years.
Now that I’m single, my social circle has changed a lot. I am closer to friends who are not married. I talk more with strangers and casual acquaintances than I did when I was married. This year, most of the people I asked did not do a traditional Thanksgiving. Here’s what I’ve heard they did:
- Nothing
- Went to see a movie with a friend
- Exercised
- Stayed home and declined any invitations
- Didn’t make a turkey, stuffing, etc.
- Family goes different places or doesn’t get together
- Avoided family because they are estranged
- Went out to eat
- Watched Netflix or Football
- Read
A key influencer around whether someone did a traditional Thanksgiving Family meal or not was children. In particular, young kids or young adults. If someone had kids – ranging from babies to college aged – they had a family dinner. If they did not – or if the kids were too far away, estranged, going somewhere else – then the person did something else.
Every person I spoke to seemed perfectly content with their decision to celebrate or not celebrate Thanksgiving. Many expressed a been there, done that attitude. They no longer felt a need to host a big dinner and preferred to do their own thing.
I have a feeling that some of this is due to the age of my sample size too. Many of the people I spoke to are not in their prime child rearing years. Some are much younger, some much older.
A surprising number of people were completely at ease with doing their own thing. I find that interesting. It was not what I expected.