Christmas in the times of COVID
We are nearing the most peculiar Christmas Season in our lifetimes. With travel corridors closing, household mixing bans and lockdown looming, many of us won’t see our families over the Christmas dinner. It will be crucial to create a festive atmosphere with what we have at hand.
Maybe it’s just you and your children. Or your partner is there as well. Maybe you have older kids. Or you’ve just had a baby and feel worried their first holiday is shaping up to be sad. Don’t! If there is one thing this pandemic has taught us, it is how to strip our lives down to what’s essential. It is our chance to focus on what makes Christmas special: quality time, family rituals, simple pleasures. And the things that last.
FAMILY RITUALS
What makes traditions, well, traditions? It’s symbolism over time. That’s the theory. And in practice? It’s a combination of food, decor and those little details only your family understands. This year we must work harder to recreate the normalcy as much as possible. Christmas traditions are especially important for children, and most of the things we prepare have them in mind. They will miss Christmas outings and of course seeing relatives. So it’s key to try to recreate your family rituals even amidst the pandemic. Maybe your family has a favourite Christmas game? Perhaps you always go skiing? Or go to a Christmas market? Find creative ways to recreate those at home. Your favourite nut roast, snow spray, and mulled wine scented candles can make Christmas magical again. And remember to turn off the TV, unless it’s for Love Actually.
QUALITY TIME
Now that we work, study and rest at home all at once, finding the quality time to spend with our loved ones is a big caveat. It’s important to set boundaries. Christmas come, we must put away our stretched-out pyjama bottoms, turn off our phones and pay attention to who’s around us. How about dressing up and creating some atmosphere with over the top decorations? Why not! Singing along to the all-time winter hits while baking snowman biscuits? Even better! And let the little ones help with the baking. Making stuff together is a great bonding experience and is said to encourage kids’ future self-reliance. And of course, it creates memories they will keep forever.
SIMPLE PLEASURES
You cannot underestimate saving in today’s economy. That doesn’t necessarily mean a gift-less Christmas Day. You can present your loved ones with thoughtful yet simple items. Consider cute care packages sent to family abroad (or even down the street, given our COVID gathering restrictions). Photobooks to share the moments you couldn’t spend together paired up with homemade sweet treats can bring out a family element we all miss. How about children? We, of course, believe in the classics - books to transport them to other worlds, comforting soft toys and our fun handmade clothes.
Besides, this year’s Christmas is a perfect moment to support small creators and purchase something handmade that has been crafted ethically and with quality materials. Whatever you choose, invest in the products (and moments) that will add meaning, value and long-lasting joy.
