Thanksgiving 2020: How Americans plan to celebrate
As Thanksgiving draws near, “the pandemic is creating some gut-wrenching decision-making for families,” said Anne Marie Chaker in The Wall Street Journal. Because travel and indoor gatherings remain risky, only 27 percent of Americans expect to celebrate the holiday as they normally do. Many will simply take precautions, such as limiting the gathering to one household. But others are getting creative about how to move the feast outdoors. Ken Cook, a grandfather and football fan from Kingston, Mass., plans to stage dinner as a small backyard tailgate party. Pop-up tents will house cooking stations, including a deep fryer for the turkey and propane stoves for the sides. Tabletop lanterns will provide light and heat. And a newly constructed fire pit will allow the grandkids to roast marshmallows. “We’re going crazy,” he says, “but it’s going to be fun.”
“Don’t be afraid to throw traditions out the window,” said
Ryan Shepard in Food & Wine. You can even skip the turkey for once, if no one at the table craves it. Instead, you could treat your smaller party to something more decadent, such as duck breast. Or just choose something everyone likes, like a lasagna, or enchiladas. “There are no rules; it’s 2020.” To forge a connection with local friends or family you’d usually celebrate with, organize a drive-by potluck. Divide up the Thanksgiving menu and have guests deliver their dishes to one another’s homes. “It’s a great way to safely share food and minimize waste, especially with larger dishes like casseroles.” Little will be normal this year, but don’t dwell on that. “Start by acknowledging that things have changed, and try to see it as an opportunity to be creative.”
Many family gatherings will occur by video chat, and a little effort can make those fun, said Jura Koncius in
The Washington Post. “If your family likes to dress up for the holidays, get out your party dresses. If you like games, have a trivia contest.” Adults could share a cocktail recipe ahead of time, so that everyone is savoring the same drink. Children could prepare a song to sing or a poem to read. Having a moderator, identified beforehand, can help keep the conversation flowing and get everyone involved. Also consider making part of the Zoom call a dive into family history (someone could even prepare a genealogy presentation). Don’t feel you have to keep the video chat open throughout dinner itself; some families plan to end the group call after a prayer at the table. Maybe you’ll be among them. If so, “something to be grateful for this year may be the fact that we can still be together in some fashion during a pandemic.”