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You can take a similar approach to decorating your own Christmas stocking. Get a plain stocking and go to town with whatever decorations you have.
Christmas 2020 is bound to be one of the strangest holidays we’ve ever had, so why not make a commemorative ornament for the tree? Irony is welcome.
If you live in a slightly warmer climate and local regulations allow it, a Christmas picnic is a great safe way to connect with loved ones. If anyone has a kitchen torch, you can get some safely roasted marshmallows on the go.
You could even try preparing a new Christmas day breakfast that can be made in advance! For example, some luxurious blueberry cinnamon rolls.
Making your own Christmas decorations is another fun way to keep busy and get in the festive spirit at home. There are tons of easy how-to guides online. You’ll find everything from mini cinnamon stick Christmas trees to 3D paper snowmen.
As for online activities, even Santa Claus has adapted to the pandemic and is now doing virtual visits! If you’ve got kids, there are several online services that provide video calls with Santa.
If it’s not too on the nose, you could also decorate a special Christmas face mask...
There are plenty of lists online to help you come up with the questions, but the personal ones are always the best. For example, take a deep dive into your friend’s social media accounts and play 'guess who posted this status 10 years ago.'
Most arts and crafts stores will have things like multi-colored pom poms, felt, and gold beads. If you’re trying to make do with that you’ve got at home, you can cut fabric shapes out of old clothes and sew a patchwork Christmas tree onto your sweater!
Many of us are very stuck in our food traditions around the holidays. While no one is saying that you shouldn’t have your usual feast, why not try adding a new side dish you haven’t prepared before?
Decorating Christmas cookies ticks all the boxes. It’s fun, it’s creative, it’s great to do alone or with family, and it’ll fill your home with delicious smells on a winter’s evening.
Remember when Zoom quizzes were a thing and then everyone got sick of them? Well, perhaps it’s time for a Renaissance. A funny Christmas-themed quiz is a great way to get friends together and laughing during the holidays.
Whether you’re an expert embroiderer or not, this can be a fun activity. Take a plain sweater, possibly something you already have at home or find in a secondhand store, and source some materials for decorations.
Many of us have discovered the joy in community and helping others this year. There’s no better time than Christmas to make that extra effort, and you’ll definitely benefit from the good vibes too. Perhaps you could make some Christmas cookies and deliver them to your neighbors or the nurses at your local hospital.
Gift opening can be done on Zoom accompanied by drinks and terrible Christmas jumpers! If you prefer to go for a more personal gift, try to get something on Etsy. It's sure to be unique and you'll be supporting a small artist.
Don’t forget that things that go wrong often make the best memories. This has been the year that went wrong and it will probably be a strange Christmas, but let’s make the best of this exceptional holiday season!
If you still want to do gift exchanges with friends and family you won’t be able to see in person, it’s not too difficult! For Secret Santa, each participant can provide their address. Use an online tool to randomly assign matches, and you can each order a gift online to be delivered directly to the recipient.
Winter is upon us and it'll soon be time to celebrate Christmas, as it heralds the end of a difficult year. This holiday season will not be the same as other years, but it can definitely still be wonderful. Many of our usual traditions might be impossible, but if we focus on what we really value about those traditions, we can surely find a safe workaround to get the same result.
Here are some creative ideas for safe Christmas activities you can try out this year. Some of them may be simple, but if the past year has taught us anything, it’s how to take pleasure in the simple things. Click through the gallery to get started.
Try meeting a friend to go for a walk. You can grab a hot chocolate to take away and take yourselves on a tour of the Christmas lights! If festive cheer is a bit lacking in your area then you can turn it into Christmas light hunt...
Christmas is the best time to make use of your fireplace. If you don’t have one, a good trick is to put a YouTube video of a crackling fire on the TV and get cozy with a book! The comforting background noise and gentle flicker of light creates a nice relaxing atmosphere.
Once you’ve got your decorations set up and a festive drink in your hand, you can curl up on the couch to read a book or watch a movie. Throw on a holiday classic like ‘Die Hard,’ or get lost in the pages of an old Agatha Christie novel like 'The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding.’
Most of us will be spending a lot more time at home this winter. Creating a cozy and comforting environment for yourself is definitely worthwhile, and doesn’t need to be expensive.
How to have a fun and festive Christmas in 2020
Let the good times roll!
LIFESTYLE Xmas
Winter is upon us and it'll soon be time to celebrate Christmas, as it heralds the end of a difficult year. This holiday season will not be the same as other years, but it can definitely still be wonderful. Many of our usual traditions might be impossible, but if we focus on what we really value about those traditions, we can surely find a safe workaround to get the same result.
Here are some creative ideas for safe Christmas activities you can try out this year. Some of them may be simple, but if the past year has taught us anything, it’s how to take pleasure in the simple things. Click through the gallery to get started.