I think it depends on size and relationship. Nobody brought anything to my grandparents (either side) until I started to. But it was always 10-11 people. Except when their same age siblings came, they’d bring something (much younger great aunt was never considerate of oma and opa). At my in laws’ we cook a dish. If we lived in town I’d probably bring a casserole, but even before we moved far away we still were hours away and you don’t want to leave a casserole for hours.

Friends though, always bring a dish except for the ones friend who has made it crystal clear that she doesn’t want people doing so because she’s insane and shows her love through elaborate meal planning. For her we just try to keep her liquor and wine cabinet overstocked and demand she let us help her with anything she wants.