Celebrating Christmas Joyfully And Safely In The New Normal

Christmas is a time for celebration, but in the midst of a pandemic, how can we safely celebrate the festive season? While it's important to follow health guidelines, there are still many ways to enjoy the holidays. From virtual gatherings to new traditions, here are some ideas to make this Christmas memorable while staying safe. Firstly, limit the size of in-person gatherings and opt for small groups or even celebrate with just your immediate household. If possible, celebrate with those in your circle of trust, people who you know are taking similar precautions and maintaining good COVID habits. For those who live far away or are unable to travel, virtual celebrations are a great alternative. Host a Zoom party, organise a Secret Santa gift exchange, or even have a virtual baking session or movie night. If you're feeling creative, make DIY Christmas decorations, cards, and ornaments. Embrace the opportunity to start new traditions, such as a Christmas Eve box filled with matching pyjamas and a book for everyone, or cutting down your own Christmas tree. Remember, even if you're alone this Christmas, you're not alone in your experience. Many people are in the same situation, so be kind to yourself and do what brings you joy.

Revitalize your traditions

Christmas is a time to celebrate with family and friends, and while it's important to hold on to traditions, it's also fun to try something new. Here are some ideas to revitalise your Christmas traditions:

• Start a new family tradition: Order matching pyjamas, start an Advent calendar, or fill a gratitude jar. New traditions don't have to be expensive or elaborate; just set aside a few hours to do something fun together.
• Serve a non-traditional dinner: Try something different for Christmas dinner, especially if you're hosting a small group. You could opt for a fancy dinner from a local restaurant or a potluck soup buffet. Remember, the most important thing is who's around the table.
• Wrap gifts in fabric: Fabric gift wrap is better for the environment than wrapping paper, and you can use it year after year. Invest in some fabric bags or patterned wraps.
• Host a virtual gathering: If your family is scattered and travel isn't possible, plan a virtual celebration. Gather everyone on a video call and decorate cookies or watch a classic holiday movie together.
• Decorate like Grandma: Vintage decor trends are back in style. Ceramic Christmas trees and elaborate Christmas villages are making a comeback.
• Give back to the community: Volunteering at a food bank, participating in an adopt-a-family programme, or helping to buy or wrap gifts for others are all great ways to celebrate the season.
• Adopt new ways to celebrate: Learn about your family's heritage and adopt some respectful new customs. Take the time to learn the story of Hanukkah and make latkes together, or celebrate your Italian heritage with a Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve.
• Play a new Christmas game: Try "Pass the Present" or the "Left-Right" game. Everyone brings a small, funny gift, wraps it, and passes it along as a poem is read out loud. At the end, you guess who brought which gift.

Prioritize people over projects

Celebrating Christmas in the new normal can be challenging, especially when trying to balance projects and people. Here are some ways to prioritize people over projects this Christmas:

Recognize the Reason for the Season

Remember that Christmas is ultimately about people. It's a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who came to earth as a baby in the midst of chaos and sorrow to save his people, whom he loved dearly. This perspective can help shift the focus from projects and material things to people and relationships.

Reflect on Interpersonal Connections

The past few years have been a reminder of the fragility and fleeting nature of human life. Take time to reflect on your relationships and the people who matter most to you. Consider how you can prioritize them during the Christmas season. Maybe it's spending quality time with family and friends, expressing gratitude to your team members, or serving those in need.

Revitalize Traditions

Traditions are an essential part of Christmas, but they should be evaluated from time to time. Consider the "why" behind your long-held Christmas traditions. Are they still meaningful to you and your community, or are they being done solely because "it's always been done this way"? Involve your family, congregation, or team in this discussion and work together to create new traditions that align with your current values and needs.

Focus on Quality Time

Instead of getting caught up in the busyness of the season, prioritize spending quality time with your loved ones. This could mean hosting a virtual gathering if you can't be together in person, playing games, exchanging thoughtful gifts, or simply having meaningful conversations. These moments of connection are what truly matter and will create lasting memories.

Be Flexible and Adaptable

During the busy holiday season, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the projects and tasks on your to-do list. Remember that it's okay to be flexible and adaptable. Prioritize the people-centric activities and be willing to let go of or delegate less important tasks. Focus on what will bring you and those around you feelings of joy and accomplishment.

By prioritizing people over projects, you can create a Christmas celebration that is meaningful, memorable, and filled with love and connection.

Reflect on new priorities

The past few years have brought about a shift in priorities, and it is important to reflect on these new priorities as we celebrate Christmas in this new normal. Interpersonal connection is more critical than ever, and we have been deeply reminded of the fleeting nature of human life. Take time to reflect on how the values and needs of your congregation, team, and yourself may have shifted, and let that inform how you choose to celebrate.

Consider what your ministry community specifically needs this season and how you can meet those needs. For example, if your community has been struggling with feelings of isolation, you could organize virtual gatherings to help people connect and combat loneliness. If there is a need for financial relief, you could suggest gift exchanges with a set budget or organize a fundraising event.

Additionally, consider what your community may need more consistently in the future and how you can incorporate this into your celebrations. For instance, if there is a need for more frequent social gatherings, you could organize regular community meals or social events throughout the year.

By reflecting on these new priorities and adapting your celebrations accordingly, you can ensure that your Christmas celebrations are meaningful and meet the needs of your congregation and community.

Decorate your home

Decorating your home is a fun and festive way to get into the Christmas spirit. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate the holiday and create a warm and inviting atmosphere:

• Christmas Tree: The Christmas tree is a classic symbol of the holiday. You can choose between a live tree or an artificial one. Decorate it with string lights, garlands made of tinsel, popcorn, or cranberries, and ornaments such as Christmas balls, stars, or small trinkets. Top it off with an angel or star tree topper.
• Stockings: Hang stockings over your fireplace mantle, or if you don't have one, get creative and hang them off your television console, on a stair railing, or anywhere near your Christmas tree. Traditionally, St. Nickolas would fill children's stockings with treats, small toys, or coins.
• Christmas Lights: Brighten up your home with twinkling lights. Line your roof, thread them through bushes or trees, or hang them on your porch or around your yard. Indoors, drape them across the mantle, bookshelves, or along the ceiling.
• Nativity Scene: If you celebrate a religious Christmas, a nativity scene is a beautiful way to depict the birth of Jesus. You can find small ones to place on your mantle or larger ones to display outdoors.
• Plants and Greenery: Bring the outdoors in with festive plants like poinsettias, evergreens, and mistletoe. Set out potted poinsettias around your home, hang evergreen wreaths, or drape fake evergreen garlands. Mistletoe is traditionally hung in doorways, and it's said that if two people find themselves under it, they should share a kiss!
• Handmade Decorations: Get crafty and make your own decorations. Create paper snowflakes, paper chains in red and green, or garlands made of popcorn and cranberries. Collect pine cones and evergreen branches, or stud oranges with cloves to make pomanders.
• Advent Calendar: Countdown to Christmas with an advent calendar. Open a small treat, such as a piece of chocolate, a small toy, or a festive quote, each day leading up to Christmas. Adult-themed advent calendars with treats like small bottles of wine are also becoming popular.

Remember, you don't have to spend a fortune to decorate your home for Christmas. Get creative, involve the whole family, and make new traditions together!

Gift-giving

If you're giving gifts in person, it's important to plan ahead. With more people choosing to shop online, there may be delays in shipping, so it's best to start your Christmas shopping early. If you do leave it until the last minute, you can pay for faster shipping methods.

If you're giving gifts in person, it's important to be mindful of the recipient's comfort level with receiving gifts. Call ahead to ensure they are happy with you dropping by, and plan your visit accordingly. You could do a simple curbside drop-off, a quick chat through the window, or stay for a longer visit, but be sure to follow CDC guidelines and local regulations regarding social distancing and sanitization.

If you don't want to deliver gifts in person, or if your loved ones live far away, you can opt for contactless delivery or e-gifts. Contactless delivery is environmentally friendly and safe, and you can send gifts such as tickets for future events, vouchers for online courses, streaming service subscriptions, or gift cards via email.

If you're looking for gift ideas, consider something practical that the recipient can use in their daily life. Kitchen appliances, meal kit subscriptions, and household tools are all great options. You could also give the gift of an experience, such as a cooking class or a restaurant gift card. For the foodie in your life, consider speciality olive oil, an international food magazine, or a butter keeper to keep butter soft and spreadable. For the baker, a stand mixer, a rolling pin, or a baking stone could be a great choice. If you're looking for something more personal, you could give an apron or a stylish chef's coat.

If you're on a tight budget, you can make a game out of exchanging gifts and filling stockings. You can also wrap your gifts in fabric instead of wrapping paper, which is more environmentally friendly and can be used year after year.

Whatever you choose to give, remember that the most important thing is to express your love and gratitude to your friends and family.

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