Christmas Traditions during COVID-19

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Sharing the Gift of Time

By Angela K. Nickerson

In our house we celebrate Christmas. Maybe your family does, too. We have had frank conversations for several months about how this COVID-19 Christmas season will be different. We won’t be traveling to see family or attending holiday parties. We won’t be going to church in person or attending the Colorado Ballet’s Nutcracker. There are a lot of “we won’ts” for this year as we continue our healthy, home-centered habits. 

As disappointing as things may seem, in this very different holiday season, I see opportunity. We felt this opportunity all summer. Normally summer is a busy time split between visiting family, camps, and adventures. I often get to the end of the summer happily exhausted with more photographs than I can ever sort. But this last summer was very, very different. We took on DIY projects, spent long evenings working in the garden, and lived out on our patio together. It was wonderful. 

Now the holiday season presents the same opportunity. As I plan our weeks from Thanksgiving through Epiphany, my calendar looks blessedly bare. Without the tension between Christmas programs, concerts, parties, and school events, I am gifted with time. Time to have a cup of tea and cozy up at home. Time to bake cookies for our neighbors who have been our socially-distant, over-the-fence family for the last nine months. Time to read all of the Christmas books, make a few more gifts than I normally might, and to relax into the season. 

This holiday season we are starting some new traditions, too -- not to fill the time, but to make the most of our time together. 

Building a Fire: this sounds ridiculous here in Colorado, but we have NEVER used our fireplace -- and I am married to an Eagle Scout. I ordered firewood for this year, and I intend to have a roaring fire almost daily, especially during the holiday season. 

More Santa Lucia: my family is Norwegian. My husband’s is Italian. The Feast of Santa Lucia, an Italian saint revered throughout Scandinavia for rescuing people from a famine in the dark of winter, is one of our family’s favorite days. Usually making krumkake and lussekatter squeezes in between a choir rehearsal and school carpool. But this year, December 13 will be extra special in our house. 

Jolabokaflod, Iceland’s "Christmas Book Flood”: now that my son is an independent reader, we are adopting the Icelandic tradition of reading together on Christmas Eve. We will each receive a new book, we will build a fire (see!), and we will snuggle up (maybe even in matching jammies) to read together for the evening before settling down for our long Christmas nap. 

Online Performances: We always attend at least one special concert at Christmas time — usually more than one. This year I am looking for every opportunity we have to enjoy these kinds of performances online. Not only is it fun, it also helps support these organizations and artists who are really struggling right now. Check your local arts organizations — your symphony, community choirs, theater companies, ballet companies, and more. Many are webcasting past performances this holiday season to bring cheer into all of our homes. Some of the performances I’ve found so far:

A Simple Christmas Dinner: I have no intention of spending all day cooking for my little family of three. There’s nothing relaxing about that for me. So we will simplify our family meals making sure everyone is happy and well-fed, but we have time for board games or a Christmas movie instead. 

Between family Zoom gatherings and wrapping gifts, I am certain our holidays will be busy, but I am thankful for this gift of time and space. Perhaps there is a holiday you’ve been too busy to observe in the past which would make your holiday season merrier. Maybe your COVID Bubble can have a bonfire together. No matter what you celebrate or how, I wish you all a healthy and festive season. Wear a mask and stay safe!