The coronavirus pandemic has certainly put a stop to most of our holiday plans. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy this time with your friends and family. Prepare for a COVID Christmas the right way with these smart ideas.
Make the Most of Your COVID Christmas
With COVID-19 cases still climbing in the United States, everyone must do what they can to help mitigate the spread of this highly contagious disease, even if it means modifying the holiday traditions you have come to celebrate each year. But, just because the pandemic remains in full swing doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy yourself this holiday season. Swap out the old with these fun yet safe COVID Christmas plans:
1. Decorate
Decorating is one way most people celebrate and spread the holiday cheer. Thankfully, even with the coronavirus outbreak, you can still decorate your house the way you want to. In fact, why not take things to the next level by going all out with Christmas decorations this year?
Hang an extra wreath or two, or put up more Christmas lights than you normally would. Decorate around a theme or just go crazy with it. You might as well do it your way. After all, you’ll be spending most of your time indoors anyway.
You don’t even need to buy your holiday decorations. There are plenty of DIY decorations you can make at home. It’s also a good way to bond with your family. Nothing says fun with kids like good old-fashioned arts and crafts.
2. Celebrate with Food and Drinks
For a lot of people, the holidays are all about delicious food and tasty drinks — and you can still enjoy both.
Make food preparation a family affair. Bake all the goodies you want to eat. You can even hold a cookie decorating activity for the kids. There are tons of easy recipes you can follow online.
As for drinks, stick with the comfortable like hot chocolate with mini marshmallows or add an extra kick by topping it off with peppermint candies.
For the adults, try a cozy cocktail like classic eggnog or mulled wine. Nothing says Christmas like warming yourself up with a nice drink by the fireplace.
3. Shop Online for Gifts
Gift-giving is a defining tradition of the holiday season. Everyone loves receiving gifts, and there’s a different sense of joy associated with giving them. Since you can’t shop in stores the way you normally do, take things online.
There are countless online retailers you can buy from. Plus, online shopping is much more convenient because you can arrange for the items to ship directly to your friends and family.
Make sure to do your Christmas shopping early, though. A COVID Christmas means more online traffic, so you have a lot of competition. Additionally, getting your shopping done ahead of time means your gifts will right arrive on schedule.
4. Video Call with Santa
No, this is not a joke. You can actually set up a video call with Santa Claus for kids and kids-at-heart. Instead of visiting a mall and letting your kids sit on Santa’s lap (which violates social distancing rules, by the way), book a video call with Santa online. The experience costs $50 and lets you include up to three kids. You can even keep a recording of the video call souvenir.
5. Visit a Christmas Tree Farm
Let’s face it — being stuck indoors can drive you crazy. If you’re looking for something to do outdoors to celebrate Christmas, try visiting a Christmas tree farm. It’s just like visiting a pumpkin patch, only this time it’s for Christmas.
A lot of Christmas tree farms come with drinks and special activities for everyone to enjoy. A quick search online will turn up results for farms near you.
Since this involves leaving the safety of your house, though, make sure to wear your mask and bring your hand sanitizer with you. You should also observe proper social distancing at all times.
6. Host a Virtual or Drive-By Christmas Party
Choose from a wide variety of video conferencing platforms and host a virtual Christmas party. This party will allow you to see your friends and family while still maintaining everyone’s health and safety.
Organize virtual games, do an online movie night, or just have a chat to see how everyone’s doing.
By now, though, a lot of people have grown tired of Zoom parties. If you’re one of those people, you can always opt for a drive-by Christmas party instead. A drive-by event lets you spend time with friends and family while remaining safe in your car.
There are several things you can do, such as admire the Christmas lights in the neighborhood, drop off gifts, and even catch a film at a local drive-in cinema.
In-Person Christmas Parties: Are These an Option?
Meeting people in-person definitely beats virtual hangouts, but are physical gatherings even allowed this year? Although health experts and authorities have discouraged gatherings, there is no outright ban on it. Still, the CDC recommends following critical guidelines for holiday celebrations and gatherings, such as:
- Outdoor parties are preferred over indoor parties.
- Require guests to wear masks.
- Encourage frequent handwashing.
- Avoid direct contact with guests.
- Make the party brief to limit the duration of exposure.
- Follow state and local safety regulations.
- Post safety guidelines.
- Avoid singing and shouting. It’s a good idea to keep the music volume down so people don’t need to raise their voices.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently, especially high-touch points.
- If you have pets, don’t let them interact with people outside of your household.
- Limit the number of people preparing or handling food.
- No sharing of plates or utensils.
- Avoid potlucks. Instead, ask people to bring their own food and drinks.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs as these can impair your (and your guests’) judgment.
- If you’re holding an indoor party, make sure to avoid crowded areas and allow for proper ventilation (open windows and doors). It’s also better to invite fewer people to make social distancing possible.
- Don’t allow guests to attend if they’re sick or have been exposed to a COVID-19 patient in the last 14 days.
If you’re planning to hold an outdoor party, it’s equally important to winterize, especially in colder places.
A Sacrifice Worth Making
The COVID-19 outbreak has gripped the world and forced everyone to adapt to the unknown. You can help by forgoing your usual holiday events to limit the spread of the virus and switching them out with these COVID Christmas ideas instead. This small sacrifice will pay off in the end.
Managing a community is hard enough without a global health pandemic. If your HOA needs extra hands, Elite Management Services can help. Call us today at (855) 238-8488 or contact us online to learn more information.
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