whats wrong with getting together w/ family? my male cousins who are more yeshivish dont converse with the females other than their mother, sisters, wife, grandmother etc. the ones that are not as yeshivish talk to the females. and the males who are younger i don’t think even notice the difference! PU-LEASE poeple. if my cousin comes to say hi how ya doing, i’m gonna talk to him. naturally, am i going to spend more time w/ the cousins my age and gender? yes of course. but i don’t have to pretend men don’t exist.
have fun at your chanukah party and all works out in the end