Families Adapt Thanksgiving Traditions Amid Rising Covid-19 Cases
Americans are finding creative, socially distanced ways to celebrate Thanksgiving as the pandemic forces them to abandon large family gatherings. From driveway dish swaps to video calls, holiday traditions look very different this year.
Families across the United States are drastically altering their Thanksgiving traditions this year as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to surge. Following guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many Americans opt out of holiday travel and large indoor gatherings to help slow the spread of the virus.
Janet Fonesca, a patient care tech in a Covid-19 ICU in Texas, typically celebrates with a massive gathering of relatives but instead sits at a table set for only three. Her family already follows strict safety protocols at home, so she safely visits her in-laws and 90-year-old grandparents from a distance rather than hosting a crowded feast.
Other families are finding unique workarounds to maintain a sense of togetherness despite the physical separation. Paul Kingsley's family in New York replaces their usual large indoor meal with a coordinated effort where loved ones cook their own dishes and swap them in the driveway, later connecting via videoconference to share the holiday experience.