This Is the Year to Intensify the Holiday Magic, Damn It
The other day, my 10-year-old child said something that broke my heart a little: “This pandemic has taken all our holiday traditions from us.” Maybe these are not all of our traditions, but certainly there are many of them. We couldn’t go visit my family for Thanksgiving. The big Christmas party that my relatives usually throw for big family and friends is canceled. Coming back to Easter, this year all holidays and birthdays looked different.
But as I told him: traditions are good because they will be waiting for us next year. Meanwhile, just because the holidays look different this year doesn’t mean they still can’t be magical. If you are struggling with how to bring the magic of the holiday this year, but keep your distance from loved ones, here are some ideas to help you get there.
Take a look at some lights
If you’ve never put your family in your car to drive around and watch the holiday lights, this is the year to start. You will probably notice more lights than ever before, because people could hardly wait until Thanksgiving was over to start celebrating the festive mood this year.
If you’re already a family that travels around the neighborhood annually (or thrice) to admire the exhibits, it’s time to take it to the next level. Visit your local news website or Facebook communities to determine where the largest displays are this year. Go ahead and plan a rudimentary itinerary that will take you to several important attractions, but also allow yourself to wander around a bit, discovering unusual areas along the way. Let the children take turns choosing a new direction to hunt for the holiday mood.
You also absolutely need to pack cookies or lollipops and hot chocolate thermoses to enjoy along the way – and listen to Christmas music while driving.
Let them be santa
Children love to give gifts and children love to keep secrets. So I suggest making fewer Christmas cookies instead this year – because who’s going to eat them at all; you do n’t see anyone – you have to earn more . Then pack them up and go to your neighbors’ homes. Place the cookie container on the ground, ring the doorbell, run and hide as you watch them discover their holiday surprise.
(However, warn neighbors ahead of time to be surprised and pretend not to see you hiding in obvious hiding places.)
The string lights up in their room
If your kids need a little more festive mood and don’t have decorations in their bedrooms yet, consider bringing the holiday directly to them. You can do your best and put a mini Christmas tree in their room and decorate it together – or you can simply hang lights around their doors and windows to create a special festive atmosphere.
Start a new tradition
Maybe there is a family tradition that you always wanted to start, but every year it gets lost, buried under all the holiday parties, school concerts, and the general temporary chaos of the season. Lucky for you: this is not a problem this year! This year you will have time to watch one classic Christmas movie every night ahead of a big day of the week. Or maybe this year you are actually buying matching pajamas for the whole family to wear on Christmas morning so you can take funny family photos in front of the tree.
Make gingerbread houses from scratch and then rip them apart to eat. Make homemade decorations for family and friends. Throw a family tree party. Finally prepare this magical reindeer meal . You can think of 2020 as the year you first started this new tradition.
Get some extra fantasy
Maybe it seems like there is no point in dressing up if you are not going to see your grandparents this year, and if you decide to stay in those same red and green jams all day, I won’t blame you. But if you want to enhance the magic a little, ask everyone to dress extra for the trendiest holiday dinner. I’m talking about fluffy dresses and butterflies, fabric tablecloths and candlelight.
Children will remember the year they were stuck at home for Christmas, missed their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, but they could also remember that this Christmas dinner was the smartest dinner they ever had at home.