It is pretty much the norm with black families. Some even do the Friday, Saturday and Sunday thing. It comes from their family being so scattered that it is often the only time all year they see each other. Most take a week's vacation at that time. It is not uncommon for them to have printed agendas for the activities. Some of the biggest fusses I have ever seen at work is when there is a power struggle over who is going to be on the different committees for the next reunion. With white folks, we just eat, talk a while and go home.