Alternative Ways to Celebrate the Holidays

2020 has presented us many challenges, and it has certainly taken its toll emotionally on many people.  With the upcoming holidays, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the lower risk ways to celebrate, according to the CDC, that could still add a little extra fun for the family while still following health guidelines for safety.

Carving Pumpkins – This fun fall activity is one that many families look forward to each year. Instead of going to a pumpkin patch, choose a less crowded scenario and pick up some pumpkins from your local grocery store.  It is recommended this activity is done with your household members, or at a safe distance outdoors with friends. This way, you can still enjoy it, just keep the group size to a minimum and make sure everyone heads proper distance and recommended safety precautions.

Halloween Night – One fun part of Halloween is getting all dressed up and going trick or treating or passing out candy. This year, however, may be a little different. This sort of activity is being regarded as a higher-risk activity, even with alternatives such as passing out goodie bags or trunk and treat and so on. One idea that I’ve seen tossed around, is having your own Halloween scavenger hunt with those you live with. You can hide candy and other items around the house for the kids can find, allowing them something a little extra special to do. Spice up the night even more with other lower risk activities such as virtual costume contests, decorating your home, watching Halloween movies or preparing a Halloween party for your household members with themed treats such as these!

Holiday Dinners – Many people enjoy a nice dinner gathering each year for the holidays. This year, it has been advised to limit this tradition to a smaller dinner with just those within your household. Thanks to technology, If you are still hoping for a larger gathering, it might be fun to organize a virtual dinner event. Each group of people can prepare their own dinners and set a time for everyone to eat together. Set up a central computer, or multiple devices, so everyone can still participate in conversation while eating. You can even still pop on the football game during Thanksgiving and watch together too! Lastly, if you’re really in the spirit of giving, contact some local shelters and see what you can do to help provide food or necessities for those in need. Many organizations may have Covid-safe ways to take in donations during the holidays.

Black Friday – Thousands of people make a fast dash to the stores the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of all the sales. While each store’s plans may not yet be available, it would be advisable to shop online this year. Now, many people prefer to shop locally, so it may be advantageous to start making a few phone calls to the local stores you frequent, maybe they are a small business, and ask them if they offer online shopping, and if so, see if they can accommodate curbside pickup or shipping. If these are not an option, maybe talk to them to see if they have a plan in place for the holiday and if not, try starting a little sooner and spread out trips as to avoid the larger holiday crowds.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. For more recommendations, please visit the CDC’s website here.