CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS DURING THE PANDEMIC

December 20, 2020 /

Written by Feba Maryann 

Christmas is probably the only time of the year when we forget about other worries and spread joy and kindness by spending time with our families. With the pandemic marking it’s first year anniversary, celebrating Christmas might not seem as exciting as it used to be. However, we need to learn to be thankful for all the blessings we have.  

Here’s how you can turn your pandemic Christmas into a memorable one!  

Hosting and Attending Gatherings 

What is Christmas without people coming together and sharing the magic of the holidays? Getting together with family and friends is at heart of Christmas.  

This year, it’s better to avoid gatherings and keep it simple at your own homes. Take a collective decision to avoid large gatherings so things get better next year. Nonetheless, you can always continue your Christmas traditions by celebrating it with your immediate family. 

Some jurisdictions allow small gatherings of 3 households consisting a maximum of 20 people. Check with your local PD or Health Administration Department to know how many people can gather in your area. If your area has a high or increasing number of COVID cases, kindly abstain from holding or attending gatherings. 

If You Decide To Host A Party: 

  • Try to host the party outdoors or in a well-ventilated space.  
  • Ensure that the attendees wear masks and take other safety precautions 
  • Maintain social distancing 
  • Limit the number of attendees to a bare minimum 
  • Clean and disinfect commonly used spaces  
  • Consider inviting people from different households at different times throughout the day. 

Travelling And Staying Over 

Christmas vacations usually mean, you take a trip with your family to either visit a close friend or your parents and have a great time. However, hitting the road might not be a good idea during the COVID pandemic.  

If you do plan to hit the road this Christmas, there are a number of factors you should take into consideration: 

  • Do you, someone from your household or someone you plan on visiting have a high risk of contracting COVID-19? 
  • Does the area you are visiting have a high or rising number of COVID cases? 
  • Is your area or the area you are about to visit have any restrictions on travel? 

In these cases, it is always wiser to put off the trip till a later time. If you do plan to go ahead with the trip, ensure you follow all COVID safety precautions on the journey and avoid public transportation systems. 

If you decide to stay over anywhere, regularly wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Wear a mask while you are indoors as well and avoid commonly used spaces as much as possible. Launder your own clothes and masks. 

Virtual Christmas 

How is Christmas ever complete without going to office parties or school/college parties? Given the dire conditions we’re in, most organisations are planning on conducting Christmas parties online. Ever since the Corona breakout in March, most institutions have relied heavily on online meeting applications such as Zoom and Google Meet. These platforms have now also introduced more features to ensure more user engagement. So, a virtual party could actually be a whole lot of fun. 

Right now, there are tons of websites that allow you to meet Santa virtually. This could be an amazing opportunity to get your kids to enjoy their pandemic Christmas.  

Host a virtual party with your family and friends. Come up with creative and fun games you can play. You could also get funky and plan a costume themed party. 

The Joy Of Gifting 

Gifting is an indispensable part of any Christmas. The restrictions on social gatherings and international travel can’t deprive us from the joy of giving. E-commerce sites allow you to get your hands on almost anything without having to step foot outside your home. Online sales and bonanzas boast huge discounts on most products during the holidays. Take advantage of this, gift your loved ones without burning a hole in your pocket.  

That’s about it for now. Stay home, stay safe. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our whole team.