2021 Thanksgiving With Multiple Households Prevalent: VA Survey

VIRGINIA — Celebrating Thanksgiving with other households will be common for many respondents of a Virginia Patch survey, but many won't travel.

We opened a survey on Thanksgiving and holiday shopping plans to Patch readers from midday Friday, Nov. 12 through the evening of Monday, Nov. 15, receiving 75 responses from Virginia Patch readers. The survey is not a scientific survey and its results should not be used as such.

A majority of respondents — 61.3 percent — plan to celebrate Thanksgiving with their household along with other family and friends. Thanksgiving will be limited to the household only for 36 percent of respondents, and 1.3 percent are holding virtual celebrations. The remaining 1.3 percent are undecided on Thanksgiving plans.

Despite willingness to celebrate with other households, many respondents don't plan to travel. A total of 57.3 percent don't plan to travel, and 32 percent will only travel locally. The remaining 10.7 percent will travel out of state.

While most don't plan to travel, car travel will be the preferred travel method for 36 percent of respondents, while 2.7 percent will travel by plane. None indicated they would travel by train. The remainder indicated they are not traveling for Thanksgiving.

SEE ALSO: Best Times To Get Out Of NoVA, DC For Thanksgiving 2021

With COVID-19 vaccines available unlike last year's Thanksgiving, we wanted to know if residents feel safer celebrating this year compared to 2020. That is the case for 58.7 percent of respondents, while 24 percent said they'd feel safe both years. There are 8 percent of respondents who don't feel safer than last year, and 9.3 percent are undecided.

Unlike last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention isn't recommending against holiday gatherings but suggests COVID-19 precautions like getting vaccinated, celebrating outdoors whenever possible and wearing a mask. We asked respondents about taking specific precautions during Thanksgiving, and 61.3 percent said they have or will get COVID-19 vaccination. Just 18.7 percent plan to wear masks, 9.3 percent will eat outdoors if the weather allows, and 2.7 percent plan to get COVID-19 testing. A total of 13.3 percent do not plan to take precautions, and the remainder are not attending gatherings.

On the economic side, supply chain issues may put strains on pricing and supply of Thanksgiving food and holiday gifts. However, 64 percent of respondents are not concerned about shortages of ingredients for Thanksgiving meals. Just 24 percent are concerned and 12 percent are unsure.

When asked about if their Thanksgiving plans have changed this year, many did not change anything or are buying items early.

"We are a flexible family who loves to cook so if something isn’t available we will cook something else. The blessing is being together," said one respondent.

"I have purchased many of the items we’ll need in advance and I have not seen any significant shortages," another respondent stated.

Results were more mixed when it came to holiday shopping. While 45.3 percent believe supply chain issues won't impact their holiday shopping, 40 percent are concerned that it will be impacted.

When asked if their holiday shopping has changed, many respondents indicated they are shopping early. Some will buy less.

"We stopped doing presents years ago. It makes the holidays much less stressful," one respondent said.

Lastly, some respondents left general comments on the holidays, covering everything from vaccinations and the Biden administration to shopping and gatherings:

• I wish the unvaccinated will get vaccinated. It is heartbreaking to see unvaccinated parents dying and leaving 4-5 children. Or begging for the vaccination on their deathbeds, when it is too late. Vaccinations would be the best gift they can give to themselves and their children.
• All of our extended family planned to get their boosters anyway but getting them done before Thanksgiving is a bonus!
• Inflation is at a 30 year high thanks to the Biden administration and their agenda. It’s hurting average Americans every day!
• Will not mail anything this year due to poor service from post offices.
• We look forward to this year with a new Baby Girl due any moment. Plus we will be with our CT. Family first time in Five years.
• If you plan ahead and prepare with some thought, it’s all very manageable