The Christmas season is steeped in so many traditions. Many of which may not be an option this year due to the pandemic. However, there are plenty of ways to make this year memorable and special for all ages either virtually or socially distanced. This year is a great opportunity to create new traditions or modify old ones for unprecedented times. A virtual or socially distanced Christmas will require thinking and planning outside of the box. So here’s a roundup of ideas and suggestions to help you brainstorm and get planning this year’s extra special holiday season.
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Embrace the outdoors
Depending on your climate, December may have mild enough weather for some outdoor activities. Mini-bonfires spread out with guests bringing their own chairs. Add some seasonal flavor to your smores with peppermint. Or if you’re lucky to have some snow, maybe a sledding adventure or a snowman contest. To warm up, have an outdoor hot chocolate and coffee bar.
Color-Coding Comfort
To adapt to differing levels of comfort with physical contact, consider having your guests that need to keep their distance to wear holiday red to indicate extra space preferred. Those guests that are comfortable with a hug can wear a festive green to indicate close proximity is fine with them. A little color-coding to help with social etiquette in these unprecedented times.
Sanitizing Stations
Have sanitization products handy and available at the entrance, in the bathroom, near the food, and anywhere else you think extra germ-fighting power is necessary. Disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, kleenex, and extra masks strategically placed around the gathering should encourage everyone to maintain clean hands and spaces.
Individualized Everything
As much as possible make easy-grab individual servings of food & drink. No cross contamination of shared tongs or serving utensils required. Miniature pies, pre-portioned servings on dishes, classic side dishes in cute mason jars, or disposable cups and bowls for salad or fruit. If you’re concerned about eco-friendliness, there are even biodegradable paper, non-plastic options out there. Possibly make silverware napkin rolls like at a restaurant or create silverware caddies or themed baskets for each family unit to take to their table or designated area.
Tacky Mask Contest
To encourage mask wearing, have a Christmas-themed mask competition. Or incorporate it into the classic tacky sweater contest. Prize for best theme, most tacky, matching the holiday sweater, etc.
Caroling
Adapt a classic Christmas tradition and make the rounds of your friends and family spreading cheer with carols and classic tunes. Of course, stand further out in the yard while singing this socially distanced Christmas season!
Christmas Light Contest
If most of your family is local, have a Christmas lights decorating contest. Create a scoresheet and have everyone drive around town judging the twinkling decor and have a festive prize for the winning family. This would work with friends as well!
Create a Stage
Whether a porch, deck, or a raised patio designate a place for homegrown entertainment. (or even a portable stage) Have each family unit sing a Christmas carol, perform a skit, or put on an old-fashioned Christmas pageant. I can hear the belly laughs now
Grandparents Storytelling Time
Using the impromptu stage or another set apart location, have the grandparents entertain the kids from a safe distance by telling stories or reading Christmas books. Alternatively, have the kids bring a question they want to ask their grandparents. If the grandparents are unable to join due to health concerns, possibly record them reading a story in advance or sharing their favorite Christmas traditions from their childhood and project it on a screen or on the TV for the kids.
Scavenger Hunt
Hide santa, snowflakes, or elfs around the yard and have guests try to find as many as possible. The person with the most wins a small prize. Or have a virtual scavenger hunt with a list of common household and seasonal items (spoons, blanket, ornament, candy cane, etc.) that each family has to find–first person back to the Zoom screen wins.
No-Contact Cookie Swap
If your family is local, have each family make enough Christmas cookies for every family unit and drop them off on the front porches on a designated day. Then have a virtual taste-testing party and vote for the best cookies. Even if your family is not local, mailing cookies is also an option!
Christmas Cards
Christmas cards are a dying tradition, but should have a revival this holiday season. Take that extra time you would have been at the holiday work party to write an update letter. Create cards to send to family and friends near and far. Have the kids draw or decorate their own cards to include in the envelope.
Recipe Swap
So many traditions at Christmas involve food. If there is a particular dish or dessert that would be greatly missed, have Aunt Sue or Grandma share the recipe in advance for each family to make their own version this year.
With a little ingenuity and planning great memories can still be made this Christmas. No doubt this holiday season is going to look different for all of us during this strange season, but we can still make a virtual or socially distanced Christmas special and festive and maybe even find some new favorite traditions to continue in the future. Merry Christmas!
Need some socially distanced Thanksgiving ideas? Check out our previous post for more suggestions.