NEW YORK — For most Americans, major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas are an opportunity to gather with family and friends. But some folks choose to spend those holidays alone — not because they have nobody to celebrate with, but as a way of unplugging from busy lives and creating a serene, relaxing day. They might take a hike or a bath, read a book or just spend time reflecting.
For Ben Freedland of Austin, Texas, the holidays are a “crazy time.” He runs his own fashion business, Zink , and between extra orders, website traffic and popup stores, “we do so much business in those weeks,” he said.