Pandemic: Ways to Make Christmas Extra Special this Year
It is beginning to look at lot like Christmas all around us, but somehow, the feeling is different this year. I am feeling all festive here in Bali, but longing for my friends and family far away! Many of us may find Christmas difficult this year, for lots of different reasons.
All around the world Scientists and governments are pondering how and whether families should get together during the holidays, potentially relaxing lockdowns and social-distancing rules to do so?
The fear is that relaxing the rules risks further spikes in coronavirus infections at a time when many countries are seeing a peak, and potentially a decline, in the number of cases.
On the other hand, allowing families to get together will boost morale after a difficult year of much anxiety, loss and sacrifice due to the pandemic.
Some of us may feel disappointed that we can't spend this Christmas as we usually would. Here are some ways that I am bringing in the Christmas Cheer this holiday into our little family.
Creating Festive Activities - Being limited on Festive Activities to choose from, we are creating our own this year. Decorating the tree was an activity with Christmas music and Festive drinks. We are sending out Christmas cards with handwritten notes on what that person meant to us this year. We are baking and decorating Gingerbread houses with some of my little man’s friends. Every meal has something red, green and/or white as part of it to make it feel extra festive.
Find a purpose and Community this Christmas - We are making a point this year to buy local Christmas presents to support the local community that has been influenced by the Pandemic. There are also beautiful Community projects that donate a bag of rice, fruits or vegetables to those in need with every purchase - look out for those beautiful initiatives in your area.
We are arranging our own Christmas Concert - Growing up all our cousins would always arrange a Christmas concert with all the children partaking, so we decided this year to do the same. Each one of us can choose a Christmas Carol with the background track to be sung on Christmas Eve after dinner.
Spreading the love - On Christmas Eve before our dinner we will be dropping off some meals to friends that we know are spending Christmas without family and are fragile. We also arranged a Pot luck Christmas Eve dinner for friends that are alone to join us. The more the merrier right?
Focus on what we enjoy - Spend Christmas Day doing things that you enjoy; this could be going for a walk in nature, or watching your favourite movie first thing in the morning in your pyjamas or having a hot bath with a good book.
Cherish the Festive Season with those close to you by enjoying fully what this season has to offer us, like twinkling lights, adorned Christmas trees, decorated shops, sparkling wine, beautiful food and the fact that you get to add another Christmas to your life.