By Caitlyn Gosa
This year our holiday traditions may not look the same as previous years but, that doesn't mean the holiday spirit has die. Here are fun alternations to try that align with the pandemic regulations.
The holidays are usually a social time of year. So how does one celebrate together separately? The most common, simple, and direct alternative to directly interact with loved ones is via a Zoom call, which is free for 30 days and you get 40 minutes per call.
After the initial conversation begins to die out, and the 40 minutes is coming to a close or when you go into the next 40 minutes liven things up with some online games. Free websites and programs that offer holiday themed trivia games such as Kahoot and Quizlet. If you are missing family game night, there are fun twists on classic games online like Scattergories and Bingo which have holiday customization features.
Another long-lasting tradition in households is movie night. Well, the theaters are closed both indoors and drive-in, but most streaming services have added a “watch together” feature. This allows a movie or show to synchronize playback among multiple devices. The great part is that one can create long distance movie nights to connect with friends and family anywhere at any time.
For many younger children meeting Santa is the highlight of the season because they can tell him face to face what is on their wish list. However, 2020 (in many ways a naughty year) prohibited meeting him face to face. One company JingleRing offers a creative change to this tradition. Just call Santa on a video chat and talk to him live. A live call starts at $25.
There are many socially distanced outdoor events to attend, but if you are looking for something more traditional Longwood Gardens is still open. They have tickets to purchase for specific time slots on their website to remain as socially distanced as possible.
These fun and safe alternatives will keep you in high spirits throughout season, allowing you to make the most of this unconventional year.