Celebrating the Holidays in the Midst of a Pandemic
It’s no secret to anyone that the holidays are going to look a little different this year. With the coronavirus pandemic still very much a looming threat in our culture, many of us are changing our holiday plans or are abandoning them completely. If you’re like me, it’s hard to imagine a holiday passing by without getting to see your family! Family is one of the most important things about the winter holidays, with themes of giving thanks and spreading joy. If you’re looking to celebrate the holidays this year and want to do so safely during the pandemic, here are some great ideas to keep in mind.
Keep Your Guest List Small
Keeping your guest list small is one of the number one ways to keep everyone safe from coronavirus this year. Though it may be challenging, try to strategize with your friends and relatives about the best ways to keep your gatherings close-knit. Consider having each household hold a separate celebration in their homes, and then gather for a video call or FaceTime after the meal is done. That way, you can all still see each other and share some holiday traditions, but you don’t all have to be in the same small space.
Get Creative When It Comes to Older Relatives
The holidays are great because they are one of the best opportunities to see older relatives like grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles. However, lots of older folks are more at-risk for this virus than the younger ones, so it’s important to exercise caution. Get creative when you visit your older relatives, like meeting through a window in their residence, or having a super fun parade of cars down their street! You can be separate from these family members and still show you care.
Have Only One Designated Server
For food-heavy holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just about any of them, try to make sure that only one person serves the food. Having only one person touching the serving utensils and containers cuts down just a bit more on germ transmittal, and can keep you all just a bit safer.
Be Open and Honest with Your Family
It’s hard to hide our feelings about our beloved family members, and it’s clear that some relatives may be harder to convince of certain ideas than others. However, as you organize your holiday celebratory gathering, make sure you open the lines of communication with your family and encourage everyone to be honest about their opinions. The key to having a safe celebration is having one where everyone is on the same page.
The most important thing to remember about the holidays this year is that your loved ones’ safety and health should be the number one priority. While it may be difficult not to be able to see everyone in person this year, there are many ways to get creative with technology and other modern means so that you can stay connected with the people you care for most.
