
December holidays may look different this year, but we can still celebrate together. With less personal interaction due to COVID-19, it’s no surprise that holiday celebrations will feel different this year. We are here to share creative ideas for you and your loved ones to celebrate and connect this season, even if it’s from afar. Here are some safe, simple ideas to help you retain cultural traditions (and maybe make some new ones) even while far apart. Good news about vaccines means we are seeing glimmers of hope for opportunities to gather in the future. By keeping our holiday celebrations small now, we make it even more likely we will join together in person next year! Religious services: Many houses of worship are streaming services online, creating the opportunity to worship together while in different spaces. You can also identify specific worship or holiday concert experiences that are available digitally – such as through YouTube, TV, or the radio – and watch or listen to them at the same time with family far away. Meals: For special meals, make it a point to dine ‘together’ at the same time with as much in common as possible – even when you aren’t in the same room. Share a common menu, prayer, placemat, candle lighting, or centerpiece to create a shared experience. It may finally be the right time to actually encourage everyone to bring their phone to the dinner table! Turn on your camera and celebrate together. Flavors of home: Mail your favorite shelf-stable treat to enjoy together. Breads and pastries work especially well for this! You might even coordinate when you open a package while on the phone together or through video to create a shared event. Video greetings: Record holiday video greetings and send them via email. Even better, you could create a private YouTube playlist for family and upload your videos there – a great way to have a collection of video updates that are available anytime at just the click of a link. The simplest way to share these kinds of experiences is with a single link that requires the recipient merely to click once. Hint: double check your privacy settings so the folks you send your link to can access the content you send. Send a card: A small note. A card. A special piece of art by the children. Now is a wonderful time to send your wishes and love through the mail to those you are missing. Remind them this separation is just temporary and we all have hopes of being together again in the new year!
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