The fall and winter holidays usually include travel, crowded parties, and large gatherings of family and friends, this year’s celebrations may look a little different. With health and safety on the forefront of our minds, here are some ways you can celebrate the holidays while staying safe this season.
Thanksgiving
While most families travel to celebrate together, staying home is the best way to staying safe. Instead of hosting a larger gathering, consider hosting a smaller dinner with just your household. Also consider having a virtual dinner with extended family and friends.
Set a smaller menu: Instead of having an elaborate menu overflowing with options, pare down to the essentials: your main dish, a couple of side dishes, and dessert. Not only will you save time and money preparing dinner, but you will end up with a manageable amount of leftovers that will be easier to eat without wasting.
Try something new: usually Thanksgiving isn’t the time you want to veer from tradition, but this year is a great time to experiment. Instead of a traditional dinner, try making a Thanksgiving brunch or enjoy cultural dishes from local restaurants. You may end up creating a new tradition!
Order in: If you’d rather skip cooking this year (or don’t normally handle cooking) use this as a great reason to support your local businesses this season. Order your Thanksgiving meal from a local restaurant or specialty grocery store.
Opt for virtual events: watch sporting events, parades, and other events from home. Many organizers are opting for virtual events this year so there are plenty of options for entertainment. If you want to do some shopping, go online instead.
Winter Holidays
Just like Thanksgiving, your plans for the winter holidays like Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and New Year’s may need to be adjusted. Virtual gatherings are always a good alternative to in-person meetings, especially since getting together outside may not be an option due to weather.
Play holiday music: get into the holiday spirit by playing music. Create a fun playlist of modern and traditional holiday music and enjoy some seasonal beverages.
Get dressed up: some holiday traditions and rituals included getting dressed up, so skip out just because you’re staying home!
Preparing your home
No matter which holidays you’ll be celebrating this year, you may still want to prepare your home, even if you won’t be hosting guests. Not only will this give you a clear canvas to work with, you’ll feel better in a fresh space.
Declutter: instead of focusing on deep cleaning your home, start by decluttering the main areas in your home, like the living room and kitchen. This will be especially helpful if you plan on decorating. Removing anything you no longer need or use will free us space for those fun holiday decorations.
Get the kitchen ready: if you plan on cooking, clear out the fridge and deep cleaning the oven. If you use your oven’s self-cleaning feature, don’t wait until the last moment! You don’t want to run the risk of having an inoperable appliance right before you really need it! Clearing out the fridge and pantry will let you see what you have and make it easier to create a shopping list so you don’t end up with multiple cans of cranberry sauce.
Add a festive touch: nothing makes the holidays feel like the holidays then decorations. Encourage the holiday spirit by decorating your home as a family. You can use candles and homemade potpourri to fill your home with delightful holiday scents.
In a time of great uncertainty, celebrating things means more than ever before. Sharing these moments of love, delight, and joy will create a distinction from one day to the next.
