Long Distance Families Combining Holidays for Double Joy: Thanksgiving and Christmas or Chanukah

When combining families upon marriage or arrival of grandchildren, one must also think of combining holidays, especially if there are distances and long distance children and grandchildren.

The cost of airfare has become outrageous and unaffordable.  Everyone is busy and cannot take off or get to a location.  Yes, zooming the entire family for holidays are a thing and an option to share a holiday.  But this grandma has used another alternative for more years than I can remember.

Two holidays are easy to combine.  Consider the family celebrating Christmas or Chanukah at your Thanksgiving lunch or dinner.  Everyone is decorating very early now, so have your Christmas tree up and Chanukah decorations up.

Of course, get present lists very early!  Children and grandchildren love to get presents and who does not want presents early.

Make your favorite Christmas and Chanukah dishes and desserts along with those for Thanksgiving.

Consider buying your Christmas and Chanukah outfits early so you can wear them and take photographs at Thanksgiving.

This year Chanukah falls on Friday, December 4, 2026 which makes it such an easy year for long distance families to celebrate Chanukah at Thanksgiving when everyone is together.

This is a way to solve the long distance or even local family issue with multiple families vying for time and love.  I do not know a child or grandchild who would not want to celebrate multiple holidays and get early presents with

Joy,

Mema