Jessica PingAbout a month ago, we entered my favorite season of the year. No, it’s not Fall, it’s better! I’m talking about Holiday Season, y’all! In my family, Holiday Season lasts from October 1st – January 2nd. Obviously, depending on which holidays you and your family observe, this could be longer or shorter for everyone, but it definitely is the time where holiday spirit is the most prevalent!
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As I have already discussed here on The Rolling Explorer, Halloween is one of my all-time favorite holidays. But, unlike the other holidays included in the time period laid out above, most of the events surrounding Halloween can be celebrated outdoors, which makes them slightly safer than the others in a coronavirus infested world.
Covid-19 is forcing many families around the world to cancel family celebrations and get-togethers.
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Here in the United States, we would be wise to avoid sharing thanks around a table filled with a communal turkey and stuffing. Gathering for religious services is only going to become more dangerous as cases continue to rise. Even Black Friday is set to take on a more virtual approach this year.
Things may look different from the outside, but it’s up to us how different we let the holiday season FEEL. While there is no direct substitute for a hug from grandma or the camaraderie felt amongst a family as they stuff their faces full and share old embarrassing tales of seasons past, there are still quite a few ways you can stay festive this year!
Keep reading to find out how you can keep the Holiday Spirit alive amongst your family and friends while remaining physically apart!
*Note – This piece is going to focus on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years as those are the holidays I personally am familiar with. If you celebrate Kwanza, Hanukah, or another cultural tradition during this season, I hope that some of my suggestions below can translate to your customs, as well.
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Virtual Celebrations
Thanksgiving:
- Gather around your own personal dining table, layout your feast, and hop on Zoom! If you have a large family, consider setting up timetables to ensure everyone can get caught up with those in attendance!
Christmas:
- Families that decorate together, stay together! Set up a Zoom or Skype call while you put up your Christmas Tree! You can do this for baking Christmas cookies and writing Christmas cards too!
- Watch movies with your loved ones from a distance with the help of Teleparty! Teleparty is a Google Chrome extension that allows you to watch TV shows or movies on Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, or HBO with anyone else who has the same streaming service! It’s a great way to bring family or friends together even beyond Covid-19!
- If your family, church, or friend group traditionally gets together and goes caroling during the month of December, consider hosting a Zoom caroling event! Music is a powerful bonding activity, and even if you choose not to share the music with anyone beyond those participating, it is sure to still be uplifting.
New Years Eve:
- Pick up a Jack Box Party Pack, download Among Us, or gather everyone you know who owns the physical game Yahtzee. Hop on a call and ring in the new year in a fun competition.
- Host a virtual dance party and countdown! Create a communal Spotify playlist, pump it out loud over the phone, and go bananas!
Gift Exchanges
Thanksgiving:
- Suggest a socially distanced potluck amongst your family or friends that live in the same town as you. Have everyone make a dish, then designate drop off times throughout the day or even throughout the week. Individual portions can be left on plates, or, if you’re delivering to a bubble family, you could give the food in a larger, sharable container. It’s not perfect, but it’s a good way to replicate a Thanksgiving feast!
Christmas:
- Set up a virtual gift exchange and either ship your family and friends their presents, or drop them off on their porch. This would be another great opportunity for a virtual hangout, as well, so you can see everyone’s reactions!
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New Years Eve:
- Have a fun game, movie, or snack that you like to ring in the new year with? Share it with your family and friends! Get a couple of different households involved and you can ring in the new year trying out a bunch of different fun activities.
Hand Written Notes
Thanksgiving:
- Thanks to Black Friday, Thanksgiving has lost some of it’s original charm over the last few decades. One way to bring it back this year would be to write people in your life notes of gratitude! Consider everyone from your friends and family, to your co-workers to have the biggest impact!
Christmas:
- Everyone loves to receive Christmas Cards, but very few people actually send them anymore. Part of the reason is surely the cost. Who knew paper could be so EXPENSIVE? Also, if you personalize each card, they can take A LOT of time to prepare, not to mention writing everyone’s address on the envelopes (I planned a wedding recently, I know these things 😂). Quarantine has opened up many people’s schedules and wallets this year. So, if you’re lucky to be in a good financial place and find yourself twiddling your thumbs at night, spread some Holiday Spirit and send out some cards! If you don’t have the financial security to send out physical cards this year, virtual cards are always lovely, too! Hop on Canva or another design website and start gathering those email addresses NOW!
New Years Eve:
- This one is more for your own personal well-being instead of someone else’s, but it’s still important! I highly recommend that you take some time to write out your top 10 memories from the past year. Write them somewhere where you can reflect back on them later. If you want to write out some goals for 2021 while you’re at it, that would be a great way to fully round out your reflection process. In the future, you’ll be able to look back and see patterns over time that led you along your path. Plus, it’s very therapeutic as it allows you to take some much needed time to appreciate everything life has given you this year. Yes, even with Covid, something good must have happened. Dig deep.
Neighborhood Events
Thanksgiving:
- Similarly to the gift exchange option, see if your neighborhood would be interested in a socially distanced potluck for Thanksgiving!
Christmas:
- Host a neighborhood-wide Christmas decoration competition! Not only is this a fun way to bring some holiday spirit to those who live near you, but, who knows, your neighborhood could become the most festive block in town! My family always loves driving around the week before Christmas and looking at all the decorations in my hometown. You could bring joy to hundreds of people, all while trying to win a goofy little prize!
New Years Eve:
- Host a neighborhood firework celebration at midnight! Get everyone to pitch in a little bit of money and make the whole night sky explode in a rainbow of color to ring in the new year. Since it could be cold depending on where you live, it doesn’t have to be very long, just try to make it fun and visible from as many people’s yards as possible!
Charity
I’m not going to separate this one by holiday because the things I am going to suggest could be done throughout the next three months and beyond to ensure everyone is well taken care of during this very scary, and very chaotic time.
- Do small tasks for your vulnerable neighbors, family members, or friends – rake their yard, pick up their groceries, etc.
- Food insecurity is a horrible reality for millions of families and individuals around the world. Donate food to food banks, missions, homeless shelters, and others who help the hungry whenever you can to have the most impact.
- A lot of families may be unable to play Santa this year due to losing their job during the Covid-19 pandemic. Keep the Holiday Spirit alive and consider helping families in need make this Christmas special for their children.
- If you’re able, support your local schools, homeless shelters, and other spaces that may need more PPE and cleaning supplies.
- Donating to causes that mean a lot to you has never been more important. Human rights are on the line. Use this time to support marginalized communities by making financial contributions to organizations that provide direct aid to them.
Let’s Connect!
How are you Keeping the Holiday Spirit Alive this Holiday Season? Which of my suggestions is your favorite? by LEAVING A COMMENT BELOW.
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Great article. Also I enjoy the perspective you’ve chosen.