It’s ridiculous for folks to skip holiday - my gosh bring a dish to pass and everyone eats - double up on transportation.
I was raised in a poor family after my father died in the war - we Never went without a full Holiday meal.
If they’er skipping holiday it’s because they just don’t want to go.
Sorry about your father
I agree. Maybe they are just grumpy Scrooge types who didn’t want to bother anyway. Everyone brings dishes to share, the typical dishes are not expensive, just doesn’t make sense.