christmas celebration during pandemic essay

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What we kept, what we ditched, what we cooked: How covid changed the holidays

Mary-Liz Lichtenfels got burned in last year’s pandemic Christmas tree shortage. And instead of hosting 19 people for the holiday, it was just her, her husband and their three millennial children. It was a quieter celebration, but Lichtenfels, who runs the McLean , Va., staging business Redesign by ML , says all of that uncertainty gave her the courage to mix things up in 2021.

Last year’s stark December, before coronavirus vaccines were widely available, disrupted many holiday rituals. Many had lost loved ones to covid-19. In-person celebrations were canceled and hastily moved to Zoom. Cookie parties were mothballed, and Grandma couldn’t come make the pizzelles. Sacred prime-rib feasts were dumped in favor of having takeout tacos outdoors under a patio heater — if you could find one. Even church services went virtual. There was sadness as Americans had to let go of many of their cherished annual customs. But wait. Are they all so cherished?

“The pandemic liberated us from certain traditions,” Lichtenfels says. This year, she and her husband raced out the day after Thanksgiving and cut down an eight-foot Fraser fir to ensure they had a tree, but it’s smaller than what they had in pre-pandemic times, and she only hung half as many items on it, skipping her traditional “ornament neighborhoods.” (She also confesses to ditching some ornaments from the “island of misfits” — the tacky pieces that were always hidden in the back.) Instead of installing the tree in the formal living room, where they rarely spend time, she stuck it in the kitchen, “where we can see it from three rooms.” Excited about her tree’s new look, she shared it on a story on social media. “Within one minute of posting the tree on Instagram, I got a text from my youngest son that said, ‘What are you doing?’ and a big sad emoji,” she says. “If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to simplify our lives.”

Pauline Wallin, a clinical psychologist in Camp Hill, Pa., who specializes in holiday issues, says people are definitely reevaluating their decorations and celebrations this year. “It could be more of the same — or time to make changes. Because it was disrupted, here is the opportunity to start new traditions or carry on and really appreciate the old ones,” she says.

This year, every family will have or has already had the chance to redefine the way they do Christmas and Hanukkah. Some people are decorating with more inflatables and doubling their number of outdoor lights. Others are donating ornaments to charity and having their children choose and wrap gifts for those in need. Hybrid celebrations that include family members living far away are making Zoom a new holiday tradition. (Now, if only Aunt Betty could remember to hit the mute button.)

Tips for hosting a stress-free holiday gathering

Change has come, but it’s not always easy. “We have this feeling that the way we celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas is the way it has always been. So any change to that feels very upsetting,” says Michael Norton , a business administration professor at Harvard Business School. “Our traditions are actually changing all the time, but when change is forced on us, it feels like we are losing something important to us, and it feels violating.” Instead of defaulting to old rituals, Norton’s advice is to reassess and to keep the traditions you value the most.

The omicron variant of the coronavirus arrived just in time to add more stress and uncertainty to seasonal gatherings, even for those who are vaccinated and boostered. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that those who are eligible get vaccinated, and it says gatherings held outside are safer. If you are with people from multiple households and from different parts of the country, you should avoid crowded spaces before travel and take tests to further reduce risk. Masks were part of last year’s holiday celebrations, and they will be around this year, too.

Kristen Carpenter, chief psychologist with Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, says last year’s holiday season taught us to have a contingency plan — although you can’t be ready for every possibility. And so much is out of our control. “This is not a time to lay blame or be angry,” Carpenter says. “This is the time to give each other some grace. So much is uncertain. Being kind to one another is the most important thing.”

Safety has become a top priority, says Mélanie Berliet, general manager of the Spruce , a home and lifestyle website. Many of us have become more caring and more accepting of different risk tolerances and boundaries. “Checking in with people is now just part of the process,” Berliet says. “We are feeling each other out and discussing our different degrees of comfort, acknowledging every person’s situation is unique.”

For this year’s Christmas tree decorations, embrace the unexpected

Coronavirus tests were part of the scaled-back 2020 celebration at the Bowie , Md., home of Nathalie Alexandre, her husband and her two children. Only one of her three sisters could join them. “We had a lot of friends and family that died during the pandemic,” says Alexandre, who runs Brooks & Bridges , a custom tableware company. “It was really tough. Last year, the pandemic showed that someone could have dinner with their family one night, and the next day have to be dropped off at the hospital, and their family could not come in.”

Alexandre says her priority this Christmas is spending time with loved ones and creating good memories. Her siblings and cousins are coming, and everyone — including the dog — will be wearing matching pajamas for a group photo.

Cooking together is a new Hanukkah tradition for Candace Ourisman, co-founder of Secretly Gifting , a gift concierge service in D.C. She spent much of December 2020 in the kitchen with her children, Scarlett, now 5, and Van, now 7. “We had a lot of time to cook since we were home for so many days. It was a great activity, and my son loved making my mother’s brisket and matzo ball soup,” she says. For this year’s Hanukkah latke party, Ourisman talked to her kids as they cracked eggs and mixed them with matzo meal and potatoes, discussing how the special recipes are part of their family’s tradition.

Last year’s bleak holidays made some people realize that it was time to chase their dreams. Regina Acheampong, senior director of business strategy for Palo Alto Networks , missed her family gatherings, and she missed travel, too. Acheampong, who in single and lives in Charlotte, is planning a small family dinner for Christmas Eve. Then, on Christmas, she and a friend have tickets to fly to France and Monaco, destinations on her bucket list. “What the pandemic has shown me is that life is short. I want to start the new year somewhere different, with new energy, and take a break for a bit,” she says. “It’s my first time ever leaving the country for Christmas.”

Putting up holiday lights the day after Halloween last year and getting a tree the day after Thanksgiving made Ashley Bronczek, the other co-founder of Secretly Gifting, feel as if she was bringing some excitement to her three children as they stayed home. “We still have young kids, and you still want the magic of Christmas,” Bronczek says. More importantly, she engaged her kids, all under 8, in giving back to the community by making PB&Js for Martha’s Table and shopping for gifts through D.C. Prep for those in need.

“I asked for each of my children to be given a child around their same age to shop for. My kids loved picking out the present for them and wrapping it,” she says. “We did things last year that, in the past, we have not been able to do, because we didn’t have time.” They are doing the sandwiches and gifts again this year.

Children will happily add more holiday rituals. When Berliet and her husband realized last December that they would be celebrating Christmas morning in their Brooklyn apartment with just their 3-year-old, Stella, they decided to take the whole Santa Claus thing to the next level. They left a plate of homemade sugar cookies and a glass of milk for Santa, as well as carrots for the reindeer. The next morning, there was a line of cookie crumbles leading to the tree and some half-nibbled carrots left behind. “We did lots of black footprints and soot going up the chimney and on our balcony,” Berliet says. “It looked great.” And alongside a pile of gifts, there was a letter from Santa saying he was proud of Stella, of how well she had done at school and of how kind she was. “We never would have had the time to do this if it wasn’t the pandemic,” Berliet says.

But now, they are on the hook for an even more fantastic Santa welcome this year. “Once you go big on the Santa footprints route, there is no going back,” Berliet says. “I guess we accidentally created a new tradition for our family.”

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Celebrate Christmas amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

How does one celebrate Christmas this year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic?

This would probably be one in contemporary history when we are encouraged to celebrate the Christmas season in its essence, in its simplicity.

With a focus on the Covid virus, we are preoccupied with guidelines on how to celebrate Christmas this year– with only members of the family who are living in the same household, to continue wearing masks, observe social distancing, or to wash hands frequently.  We are being discouraged from visiting one another for our mutual protection and safety.  The usual Christmas glee and merriment that we have been accustomed to is not possible this year.

But our celebration of Christmas should not be dampened by Covid! Let us spread more hope, peace, joy and love this Season!

And this is where I am reminded of the birth of our Savior.  The Christmas story is one of simplicity.  Our Lord and Savior was born in a manger with only his mother and father.  His guests were a shepherd, a few animals and the three magi.  It is a heart-warming reminder of the true reason of the season.  This year has been difficult for all of us but we cling to Hope. That amidst all of the confusion and fear that the pandemic has brought, God is with us, has always been and will always be with us.  Jesus is the light of the world!

May the baby Jesus continue to have room in our hearts, our lives reflect Christ’s presence, and our homes radiate God’s peace. With abundance of faith, hope and love, we will all get through this crisis together.

From the Trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, students and friends of Silliman University –  A blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Philippines: Christmas In A Pandemic

This photo taken on 7 November, 2020 shows shoppers watching the lighting ceremony of a 60-foot (18.29 metre) tall Christmas tree at the Mall of Asia in Manila. (AFP Photo)

25 December is Christmas Day! In the words of singer Andy Williams, it is the “most wonderful time of the year.” For Christians and Catholics alike, it is one of the most awaited times of the year. It is by far one of the most sacred religious holidays and a worldwide cultural phenomenon especially for Catholics and Christians alike. 

It is believed to be the birth of Jesus of Nazareth and the world has been commemorating and celebrating it for the last two millennia. People from different walks of life around the world have been celebrating it with their countries' respective Christmas traditions and practices. 

However, this year’s Christmas celebration and the whole holiday season will no doubt be different. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pressure on the festive season is higher than expected. Most definitely, the coronavirus pandemic indeed left almost no one, no occasion even Christmas and the holiday season, and no countries – even the most Christmas feast loving country –the Philippines, unaffected. 

Pinoy Xmas In A Pandemic 

Like any other Catholic and Christian country in the world, the Philippines also celebrates Christmas but way longer than any other country in the world. For Filipinos, Christmas is one of the most important holidays. Filipinos love to celebrate Christmas with family, relatives, and friends. It is the time of the year when Filipino families usually reunite and do things together with much fun, vigour, and festivities. 

Also, Filipinos have their own set of iconic Christmas traditions and practices that includes: (1) setting up the “belen”, which is a common nativity scene everywhere in the Philippines and in almost all Filipino households; (2) hanging of “parol,” a Christmas ornament unique to the Philippines on streets, outside the house, in malls, in offices and almost everywhere; (3) attending “simbang gabi (night mass)”; (4) indulging and enjoying two of the most popular and most loved Christmas food treats, “bibingka” and “puto bumbong” (both are variations of rice cakes) after the “simbang gabi”; (5) house to house carolling that starts from the second week of December which both kids and adults enjoy the most; (6) attending the Misa de Gallo (Christmas Eve Mass); (7) then the ultimate Christmas celebration of “Noche Buena” or the so-called “midnight feast,” which for Filipinos is a huge lavish, open house feast and a celebration with family, friends and neighbours, greeting everyone a Merry Christmas, with lots of sp ecial food and delicacies to enjoy; (8) then the gift giving or exchange of gifts as a way of celebrating the season of giving where everyone is just happy to receive and give gifts; and (9) last but not the least is the giving of “pamasko” (wrapped gifts or money) by godparents to their godchildren, which is something children look forward to all season long.  

But in this time of the coronavirus pandemic , Christmas merriments in the Philippines are different, unlike in previous times. Some, if not all the wonderful Christmas traditions and practices have to some extent been compromised. For instance, traditional gatherings with family, friends, and neighbours which is deemed unsafe and risky as it may facilitate the spread of the coronavirus has to some extent been discouraged and shifted online. 

The number of people who can attend “simbang gabi” has been limited as well and even masses have been celebrated online or streamed via various social media platforms just to make sure that Filipinos can still attend masses in the comfort of their homes. 

Likewise, carolling, shopping extravaganzas, and parties are not possible and discouraged, with night-time curfews enforced as one way of ensuring that people will not be roaming the streets but rather will stay in their homes to contain the spread of the deadly virus even during the holiday season. Hence, Filipino Christmas festivities have been to a greater extent low-key, modest, and minimalist. 

Likewise, on top of a ban on social gatherings, restrictions and limitations on church attendance; the economic impact of the coronavirus including the impact of successive natural calamities/disasters that befell the country has also left many Filipinos without work, financially challenged, or broke. 

Hence, all these taken together, one way or the other, are the very reason why Filipinos can’t celebrate Christmas this year like they used to do. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a downer. 

Nevertheless, despite such a forlorn and challenging situation in the Philippines, Filipinos still are determined to have a meaningful and cheerful holiday season ahead of them. They celebrated Christmas day full of joy and happiness in their hearts despite the limitations and restrictions with the fervent hope that the coming year (2021) will be brighter and sunnier than 2020. 

Filipinos to a greater extent will not allow the pandemic to ruin the most important season of the year. Despite quarantine restrictions and financial difficulties , Filipinos will always find ways to have fun and enjoy the holiday season with much hope and vigour with friends and family even if it’s done online. They will make the most of a difficult situation.  

Amid difficulties, they will find time to laugh with friends and family. This is part of the coping mechanisms of Filipinos which makes them strong, buoyant, resilient, and high-spirited people. 

Indeed, despite the pandemic and the various difficulties it has brought to the Philippines and the world at large, most particularly in how Christmas celebrations and festivities have been altered and restricted to some extent, still, the essence of Christmas remains the same. 

Christmas in the time of the pandemic still means giving, loving, and renewed hope that the future will be brighter and better. It still means charity and goodwill towards all humankind especially those who are less fortunate especially now in this time of the pandemic.

The best and most practical gift Filipinos can give to themselves, to their loved ones and friends is the perseverance and discipline to follow the minimum health standards prescribed by the government like social distancing, wearing of face masks, washing of hands, staying at home and not going to crowded places to protect themselves from the deadly coronavirus. 

Indeed, looking after our own and our loved ones and friends’ health and well-being in this time of the pandemic is the most meaningful Christmas gift that one can give to all.

Related Articles:

World Readies For Lockdown Christmas

COVID-19 Impacts In The Philippines

Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy is Professor of Political Science, International Relations, Development Studies, European Studies, SEA and China Studies. She has worked with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other local and international NGOs as a consultant. She is President of Techperformance Corp, an IT-based company in the Philippines.

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Not Home for the Holidays

Liberated by the loss of tradition over the last two years, some are forging their own celebrations — or skipping them altogether.

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By Alyson Krueger

In the past, Lexi Ivarsson, a content creator who lives in Boise, Idaho, felt she had limited options for the holidays.

She would pack her four kids, aged 3 to 7, in the car and drive to either her husband’s parents’ house nearby or her family’s house near Provo, Utah. It was a tradition so ingrained, she even saw family members last year for the holidays, in the middle of the pandemic and against the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But this year she decided she’d had enough.

She and her husband, Brendan, don’t share views with his family on almost anything. “Our thoughts on religion and politics and the way we should treat each other and ethics is completely different,” said Ms. Ivarsson, 28. “Sitting down at a table together is hard because of that.”

To get to her parents required a 10-hour drive. “We get along with them, but it’s a big drive to do with little kids,” she said.

So this year she decided to celebrate Thanksgiving sans family. Instead she and her husband invited her best friend and her family over to celebrate (and share the cooking).

“We had such a good time, and there was zero drama to it and zero obligation,” said Ms. Ivarsson. “I think the pandemic shifted something that made us realize if we don’t want to spend time with family, we don’t have to.”

She now plans to celebrate Christmas with friends as well.

People across the country are saying no more to holiday obligations. After the drain of the pandemic, some are choosing to skip the stress of travel or of spending hours around a table with people they don’t entirely enjoy. Even those who like their families are choosing to be apart, opting instead to be with friends who live close to them or to go on far-flung trips they’ve always wanted to take.

“We’ve all finally realized we don’t have to do things the way they’ve always been,” Ms. Ivarsson said.

Throughout the pandemic, many Americans have realized the value in taking care of themselves and doing what they want to do, not what’s expected of them.

Megan Vice’s family lives on Long Island and wants her to come home for the holidays, but for the past few years, spending Christmas there has been a bummer. “My parents don’t even have a tree anymore,” said Ms. Vice, a 31-year-old musician who lives in Los Angeles. “I need to be doing things that make me happy, and for me, Christmas is not an enjoyable experience. As much as I love my parents, this holiday does not make me feel good.”

This year, she will fly to Chiapas, Mexico, for a 10-day silent meditation retreat in the mountains. “It’s going to be intense, but I think it will be meaningful,” Ms. Vice said. “The pandemic has made me crave not just new experiences, but ones that are intentional.”

The pandemic has taught other Americans that virtual connections can be as meaningful as in-person ones. If that is the case, they figure, why spend all the money and time to travel to be with family in person?

Tracy Lee, 40, who works in financial tech in Manhattan, loves visiting her parents and siblings who live in Montana, Arizona and Indiana. But Thanksgiving, when airfare is generally more expensive and the airports are packed, is not an ideal time to fly there. “I would rather see my family when we can actually do things and not feel forced,” said Ms. Lee, 40. “Why not meet up in August and enjoy a nice week together and not force this holiday on all of us?”

When she was away from her family over the pandemic, she learned how easy it was to keep in touch with them virtually. So she decided to do that for the holiday this year instead. “We played a trivia game with them, some version of Heads Up,” she said. “It feels so natural to interact virtually since the pandemic. This is now how we make the holidays work.”

Thom Tran, a stand-up comedian in Los Angeles, said the pandemic normalized virtual connections so much that this year he felt free to celebrate Thanksgiving away from his parents, who live in New York, “completely without guilt.”

“My dad is a 70-something man who now embraces the iPhone like I never expected,” said Mr. Tran, 42. “He now FaceTimes me on a biweekly basis,” he said. (Mr. Tran spent Thanksgiving serving meals to the homeless, then eating dinner with 25 new and old friends.)

For others, skipping family gatherings last year helped them realize the get-togethers are not that important.

Tony Hurt, 31, a software engineer in Columbus, Ohio, usually spends Christmas with his large extended family at his aunt’s house, also in Columbus. “I buy gifts for everyone and I usually spend $600 to 1,000. And it’s not even about the money. It’s so stressful buying gifts for so many people.”

The pandemic helped him have a breakthrough. “Since we weren’t able to get together last year, I realized how much money I saved,” he said. “It made me realize it’s not the worst thing in the world to skip spending a day with family I see a lot anyway.” Instead he’s going to Puerto Rico by himself for a week to relax on the beach and listen to live music.

“I would have never dreamed of missing Christmas before the pandemic, but now it makes sense,” he said. “I am so excited about my trip.”

The pandemic also turned friends into family. When they couldn’t be with their biological relatives, some created a family of friends and neighbors who lived closer.

Caragh Creswell, who works in fashion in New York City, chose to celebrate Thanksgiving with one of her best friend’s families. For Christmas, she is hosting friends at her apartment.

“We have all gone through such a huge, huge emotional roller-coaster together,” said Ms. Creswell, 29, who is originally from Australia and still has family there.

“What the pandemic has taught me is that family doesn’t have to represent those that are blood related. Family is made of those people who support you and love you,” she said. “So when I think about who I want to spend the holidays with, it’s those people.”

Christmas will be different this year – but it’s important to celebrate together, even online

Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Nottingham Trent University

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Dr Mhairi Bowe is affiliated with Nottingham Trent University and The British Psychological Society

Nottingham Trent University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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There is no doubt that Christmas will be different this year. Lockdowns and distancing guidelines have already curtailed other celebrations, such as Eid and Diwali.

For Christmas, restrictions on social contact are being loosened in the UK. They allow three households to form a bubble for a five-day period. Nevertheless, many people who would normally gather at this time of year will no longer be able to meet.

This does not mean we should abandon our celebrations. Coming together, even remotely or in more intimate groups, allows us to engage in activities relevant to our shared identities. Taking part in shared family and national traditions , such as those practised during religious celebrations, boosts our sense of shared identity, connection, and ultimately wellbeing.

Emotional significance

Before the recent announcement of the relaxing of social distancing around Christmas Day, a survey by the Telegraph revealed that one in four of Britons taking part intended to ignore restrictions in order to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, regardless of the guidance.

These intentions – that appear to prioritise celebrating together above safety – reveal the emotional significance of this occasion for many people.

A growing body of evidence in social psychology has shown that social groups, such as families, friends, colleagues and communities, are essential for health and wellbeing. These groups are central to our sense of self. They provide us with valuable psychological resources , including feelings of belonging and acceptance. They help reduce experiences of stress and provide access to help and support.

Being denied access to these valuable groups at a time of stress places a great psychological burden on members of the public – especially those already experiencing vulnerability. It is perhaps unsurprising that there is a national longing to reconnect to these sources of strength and familiarity.

Shared traditions

As well as being good for us, social groups also help satisfy psychological needs. One of these is the need for continuity . Being part of a group can help with this because it allows people to feel part of something stable and predictable across time and history.

We create and continue the stories of our families, communities and nations by sharing and passing on group culture through shared narratives, treasured belongings, rituals, and traditions.

Religious holidays and celebrations remain at the heart of shared group traditions for many. Even in non-religious communities, events such as Christmas are valued, shaped and shared in families in their own unique ways.

Furthermore, global threats to existence such as the pandemic don’t just affect isolation and loneliness. They also remind us of our own vulnerability and create a sense of concern about our shared future: an experience psychologists call “ collective angst ”.

When faced with such threats , we seek to reaffirm our cultural, national and family identities and gain comfort from the expression of tradition and collective continuity . In particular, enacting these traditions can trigger shared experiences of nostalgia that make us feel connected and revitalised.

The UK government has recognised that spending time with loved ones may be even more important this year and the eased restrictions could allow families to come together again before the difficult winter ahead.

A smaller scale

The evidence does indeed suggest that being together to celebrate well-loved traditions like Christmas may affirm identity and boost wellbeing through these challenging times. However, it is possible to share and enjoy family traditions in smaller household groups.

Recent research suggests this might be a safer option, as being together in extended family groups can lead to increased risk. This is because we tend to feel less vulnerable around people we trust and sense a connection to – such as family members. This experience of connection can increase the likelihood of social contact behaviours that risk potential transmission.

As we move into this unusual festive season, it is encouraging to know that coming together on Skype or Zoom can effectively boost wellbeing just as meeting in person in does, by helping families and communities connect, communicate and support each other.

Those choosing a more restricted or remote festive season can find an abundance of suggestions available for adaptations to usual routines. In 2020, we may find school nativities and religious ceremonies are live-streamed, festive fairs may be replaced by walks to see displays of local Christmas lights, and the after-dinner board games may be temporarily replaced with the virtual family quiz.

So this year, while we strive to maintain the traditions and celebrations that bind us, we may need to think a little more creatively about ways to come together to share our traditional festivities and reap their psychological rewards.

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• Christmas 2020

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Christmas Amidst the Pandemic

In 1914, Europe was in the midst of World War I which had brought devastation, despair, and sorrow. 

But in the midst of the war, something unexpected happened. On the eve of December 25, there was a ceasefire between a small group of soldiers from opposing sides, who, only hours before, had been killing each other.

Why? The soldiers in both trenches agreed for a momentary truce to celebrate Christmas.

When dawn broke on Christmas morning, many German troops came out of their trenches and approached the Allied Troops, crossing the field in no-man’s land. The German troops shouted, “Merry Christmas!” in their enemies’ language. The Allied Troops responded to their enemies’ call warmly, and offered smiles in response. War seemed to cease, though only momentarily. The troops, who should have been fighting, traded gifts instead, sang Christmas carols, and even played a game of football together. Warm conversations, camaraderie and singing replaced the sound of gunfire and exploding mortars. 

Sadly, the peaceful moment only lasted so long. As soon as  high ranking officials found out about the “peace treaty”, they commanded the soldiers to start fighting again. But, a small slice of Christmas peace had given the tired soldiers some hope and respite in the middle of a vicious war.

Christmas in a Pandemic

Christmas of 2020 is surely different from that Christmas of 1914, when millions of people died as casualties of war. In 2020, about 1.2 million people globally (and counting), have died as casualties of an invisible enemy: the COVID-19 virus. In Indonesia, the virus has killed more than 17,000 people in the past eight months. And the spread of the virus shows no signs of abating soon. 

The pandemic has disrupted, even destroyed, many aspects of our lives. It has brought havoc on our economy, caused unprecedented job loss, disrupted social relations, church services, ministries, and many people have died. 

Another less noted result of the pandemic is the massive increase in the number of people suffering from mental health issues. A recent survey from the Commission of Research and Development of PGI (Indonesia Council of Churches) conducted from early June, 2020, showed that 73.1% respondents experienced mild depression, 21.9% suffered from moderate depression, and 3.5% indicated severe depression.

It’s not uncommon to hear people say the pandemic has left them feeling drained and exhausted, calling out to God: “How long, oh Lord, will this pandemic last?” Our cry reminds us of David in Psalm 13, when he cried out to the Lord in desperation, “How long?” He repeated this cry four times! (Psalm 13:1-2)  

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Mental Health

COVID-19 and Christmas: How to Celebrate Safely and Merrily

The holidays sure do look different this year, but that doesn’t have to put a damper on your festivities. You can do many things, whether you are spending Christmas by yourself or with your immediate family. Regardless of how you celebrate this year, it’s essential to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While I don’t recommend visiting with your extended family this year, here are some quick guidelines to keep in mind.

• Stay home if you are sick
• Wear a mask
• Socially distance yourself if you are at an inside event
• Provide antibacterial hand gel to your guest.

Now that we have that out the way, here are some fun things you can do to celebrate Christmas safely.

Decorate your home: We all know there are two types of people: Those who blast Christmas music on Nov. 1 at 12:01 a.m. and those who like to wait until after Thanksgiving. Regardless of when you start Christmas decorating, it’s great way to brighten up your home as well as your spirit. Put on a Christmas music playlist while you deck halls or put up your Christmas tree. Don’t forget to put up some lights outside ! Gather your family and have a silly lighting ceremony to admire the bright lights and your hard work.

Twenty-five days of kindness challenge: If Thanksgiving is the holiday for being grateful, then Christmas is the holiday for giving back. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the frenzy of Christmas shopping that we may forget there are others less fortunate than ourselves. And yes, there is always someone who doesn’t have it as good as you! This season, challenge yourself to do one small act of kindness a day for someone else. You can do things like paying for someone else’s coffee, preparing an extra lunch for a homeless person, asking someone how they have been holding up during the pandemic or letting someone know you appreciate them. Another great way to get your kids involved is to go to the toy store and have them help pick out a toy to donate to Toys for Tots . You can also donate to Ochsner through Amazon Smile while Christmas shopping!

Zoom Parties

Company and family Christmas parties are one of the best parts of the holiday season. This year, consider taking the parties to Zoom. Munch on some holiday snacks and seasonal drinks while you chat with your friends. You can even open secret Santa gifts that you mailed to your family or coworkers while on the call. Don’t forget to dress up just like you would at a typical holiday party. You can even host an ugly Christmas sweater contest!

Cookie or gingerbread house decorating

Cookie decorating is a fun activity and a great way to entertain young children. If you have time, you can make your sugar cookies from scratch or buy a kit. Use holiday shaped cookie cutters and have fun being as neat or messy as you want. For older children, gingerbread houses are the way to go! They will enjoy making a structurally sound houses while creatively decorating the exterior.

Write holiday cards

The holiday season is the perfect time to revive the art of writing thoughtful letters. If you can’t be near your loved ones, sending them a Christmas card will help bring you closer. Make a list of your friends and family and mail your letters throughout the month. Not only will it bring a smile to your friends’ faces but yours as well when they let you know they received your card. And who knows, maybe they’ll send you one right back!

Christmas movie night

There are so many new and classic holiday films to choose from nowadays. Turn it into a fun night with peppermint mocha lattes or cranberry chocolate chip cookies . This would also be a great time to wear your matching pajamas. If you live alone, plan to watch a Hallmark movie at the same time with your friends. Text or live-tweet your thoughts on how cheesy or great the movie is.

Drive to see the lights

Driving around neighborhoods to see the Christmas lights is a great and socially distant way to feel the wonder of the holiday season. Look up popular areas known for their light displays or check if your local park to see if they have a drive-through Christmas light display.

Scavenger hunt

No one forgets the magic of opening gifts is on Christmas morning. Make things more interesting by getting your kids to go on a scavenger hunt for their last gift. Give them a couple of clues and hide them around the house. They’ll have fun trying to decipher all the clues and you’ll enjoy them scurrying around the house.

Holiday brunch

Christmas day isn’t complete without a delicious brunch spread. Make your favorite breakfast dishes and add a yuletide twist like cranberries for garnish or snowman-shaped pancakes. Then go around your family table or Zoom call and talk about your favorite holiday memories or your hopes for the new year.

For the latest information on COVID-19, click here.

You may also be interested in:

How to safely host holiday gatherings during covid-19 and flu season, how to avoid disasters while decorating during the 2022 holiday season, how to prevent burns during the holidays.

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A holiday season gutted by the pandemic: we're trying to 'celebrate and grieve at the same time', copy the code below to embed the wbur audio player on your site.

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• Frannie Carr Toth
• Cloe Axelson

We recently marked a new grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic: at least a quarter of a million Americans are dead, and the virus is raging. News of two vaccines offer hope, but even on an accelerated schedule, life as we knew it, according to the experts, is still a year away. These are dark times and we’re headed straight into a COVID winter .

Clearly, the 2020 holiday season will be unlike any other in modern history. The Centers for Disease Control is strongly recommending that people not travel for Thanksgiving. Public health experts say that the safest, most prudent approach to the holidays this year is to stay home. To be “all in this thing together” means we must stay apart.

But this much separation from one another is hard. After nearly nine months, pandemic fatigue is real.

We wanted to know how people are coping, so we asked our readers and contributors to tell us how they’re planning to navigate the holiday season this year. There was nothing scientific about this venture, but the responses we received were heartfelt and affirming.

People are finding all sorts of ways to connect, celebrate and reflect. There will be lots of dinners over Zoom, but also many small gatherings outdoors, around fire pits and on porches beneath heated lamps. Your responses tell us that you are taking the dangers of the pandemic seriously. That you are planning to make big sacrifices, at great personal cost, to keep yourselves and your communities safe.

To be “all in this thing together” means we must stay apart.

A century ago, the world was struggling through another pandemic. The second wave of the 1918 flu was much more powerful than the first. It, too, spiked in the fall and winter . More than 675,000 Americans died during that public health crisis, more than a quarter of those deaths just in October. Maybe the things that are important to us now aren’t so different from what held people up then?

If you can’t hold your loved ones close this year, we hope you’ll find some hope and connection below. Take heart in the vivid descriptions of food (so many of you are relieved not to be eating turkey!), the gratitude for simple things and the inventive ways we are all finding our way through.

The poet Mary Oliver said, “Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.” That seems just right for this holiday season.

-- Cloe and Frannie

How we are feeling

I’m feeling a sense of loss, but with two promising vaccines on the way, I am also feeling cautiously optimistic. — Tafadzwa Muguwe , M.D. Boston, Mass.

I feel like it's odd to be "celebrating" after one of the toughest years for our country, but mentally and emotionally, I am really ready for that joy the holidays normally bring: closeness, family, tradition and new memories. I have practiced the phrase "This year, we are staying home, and so should you" a lot. — Judith Young, Auburn, Mass.

My father died in early March — of cancer, not COVID — and this will be our family's first holiday season without him. We're all staying in our respective households this year, which feels like the safest, most responsible thing to do. But I hate that my newly widowed mother will be alone, instead of surrounded by family during this fraught, tender time. I hate that so many other people will be experiencing the same thing: Their first holiday season after the death of a loved one, without friends and family around to ease the pain. — Jane Roper , Melrose, Mass.  

I'm nervous heading into this holiday season. I remember what April in the Northeast was like as a frontline doctor treating COVID-19 patients. I don't want to see that happen again. As of now, I will be off during Christmas and New Years', but this will likely depend on how many cases we are getting and how much help is needed in the hospital. — Abraar Karan , M.D., Boston, Mass.

When Gov. Charlie Baker announced that we should celebrate the holidays only with the people we live with, I wholeheartedly agreed; however, I live alone, so I simultaneously felt the one-two punch of the pandemic’s social isolation, especially since my birthday also falls amidst the holidays. This year, I plan to celebrate by dropping off and receiving food from local family and friends, instead of exchanging hugs and sitting together for a meal. The gift of sharing and savoring the love and gratitude we have for each other is stronger than our physical distance. — Tracy Strauss, Cambridge, Mass.

I hope to celebrate the holidays by only doing the typical holiday things with the people I live with. I am afraid that family pressure — and my parents’ and extended family's desire to make it all "normal" — will cause my family to guilt me into holiday activities that will lead to people dropping their guard. I just really want my family to all acknowledge that we cannot do normal holiday stuff this year. — Andrew, Carlisle, Mass.

I feel anxious and resigned. Many Americans are planning to celebrate this Thanksgiving as if the pandemic doesn't exist. I feel like Cassandra, the Greek prophet cursed to utter true prophecies but have no one believe her. — Joshua Budhu , M.D., Boston, Mass.  

I asked a friend who practices immigration law what it means to have a president-elect Joe Biden, and he said, “My work will no longer be completely impossible, just nearly impossible .” So much is true in that comment. For me, the holidays will be a time for reflection, and that means thinking about the disproportionate ways in which we, as a nation, allowed COVID-19 to eradicate the lives of tens of thousands of disabled people in this country. How is this country of unceasing, self-proclaimed greatness so callous, helpless, and indifferent? And yet I also see the glimpse of what “just nearly impossible” could lead to, and it seems to me the most realistic seed of hope I can embrace. — Alex Green , Waltham, Mass.

How this year will look different

How do you celebrate and grieve at the same time? That’s what I’m thinking as I prepare for Thanksgiving, 2020. I love gathering around a table with friends and family. Unlike many I’ve talked to, who say Thanksgiving is canceled this year, I will celebrate. This is one of my favorite holidays because it focuses on food and not commerce. Every year as my kitchen fills with the seductive scent of butter, garlic and a roasting bird, I love thinking about how many cooks are in their kitchens creating some variation of the same meal ... The toughest part of the day will be the empty chairs at my table. Both my daughters live on the West Coast and won’t make it home. It’s been over nine months since I’ve seen them. We will Zoom later in the day, compare notes about our meal, toast our new president and vice president. There is no doubt I will need a box of tissues nearby. — Kathy Gunst , Maine

For 35 years we have had a big multi-family/friend Thanksgiving dinner. Not this year. Another family and a few strays are coming over after dinner for dessert  — outside around a fire and with masks on. It’s important for us to hang on to some of our traditions and to include those who may be alone this year, so for us it’s worth the small risk. — Mollie Miller

I won’t feel sorry for myself. There are so many permanently empty chairs at Thanksgiving tables this year. Those are the people to who my sorrow goes. Carolyn Griffin

Thanksgiving this year will be very different. I have five children and nine grandchildren. One of my daughters usually hosts dinner. This year I will be home at my condo alone. I've decided to buy a roasting chicken and do all the sides (in smaller portions) and a dessert or two. I’ll go for a walk (I live in historic Plymouth, in walking distance of The Rock and Mayflower). I may also pick a favorite movie to watch, possibly Zoom with family, put up Christmas decorations, start wrapping gifts, start writing Christmas cards. Most importantly: I won’t feel sorry for myself. There are so many permanently empty chairs at Thanksgiving tables this year. Those are the people to who my sorrow goes. — Carolyn Griffin, Plymouth, Mass .

  I used to spend long-weekends inching along clogged highways between Boston and my in-laws’ in New York, desperately wishing I could instead be having anything but turkey at home with my husband and kids. This year my dream is coming true. The dinner will be take-out, the family will be on Zoom, and the clamor, laughter, boredom, and gluttony of past get-togethers will be replaced by something muted and small. But we’ll feel a new sort of connection in our parallel solitudes. We will miss each other because we love even that history together, and that reminder will be a gift. — Julie Wittes Schlack , Cambridge, Mass.

I preordered special donuts for the day before Thanksgiving, including one with cranberry glaze, stuffing, mashed potatoes and fried chicken on top. Everything is weird this year, so why not? Instead of dinner, we're having my parents over in the morning for bagels, which we’ll eat outside by the fire pit. My husband often works in the emergency room on holidays, and he’s so excited to be home — particularly this year — that he ordered a 16-pound turkey to cook for our family of five. — Sara Shukla , Rhode Island

We will be especially missing my youngest son, 26, a U.S. Marine stationed at Iwakuni, Japan for the last 3.5 years. He married a lovely girl from Osaka in March and we couldn't go. We'll set up a time to video chat via WhatsApp. — Sandy Kane

My family was going to meet in person but after a long talk about the risks we’ve decided to do a zoom Thanksgiving instead. Even as we debated the risk of outdoor meeting or testing and meeting, it didn’t seem safe. — Claire, New York, NY

We won’t gather this year so we can gather next year. Lois Johnson

We won't be gathering with family this year, or with anyone indoors. We're spending Thanksgiving in the backyard of a friend who has heating lamps — just four of us, keeping our distance while being together (and celebrating on a different day if it rains or freezes on the actual day of Thanksgiving). Hannukah and Christmas will be just myself and my partner. But we're making the most of it: making festive outdoor plans with friends, and Zoom plans with far-away family. Planning elaborate baking projects, and starting gift shopping early on the websites of local businesses. Since I'm part Italian, I've long wanted to try the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, and now we'll have the time to do it. — Jaclyn Friedman

We will have a small Thanksgiving with family members we have been socially distancing with since March. We built a large deck during quarantine and have rented a patio heater to have dinner with our small group, outside. — Lana Eldridge, Halifax, Mass.

Some neighbors have organized a socially distanced turkey trot on our block and then my kids and I will spend the day cooking, before seeing my parents outside, briefly, around a bonfire. — Sarah Sherman-Stokes , Roslindale, Mass.

I am trying to think of the holidays as regular days, to be honest. It helps take the pressure off having to capital “C” celebrate(!) them. To be really-really honest, I am kind of looking forward to being low-key about the holiday season this year. I often feel that our society puts too much emphasis on the external aspects of the holidays (e.g., what we post on social media, how many party invitations we get, how many holiday cards decorate our fireplace mantel, gifts-gifts-gifts, etc.) and less on the internal (e.g., our family bond, our stories, our traditions). — Jenn DeLeon , Southborough, Mass.

We have been soliciting donations from friends and family for supplies to make care and art kits for Boston's Rosie's Place shelter. On Thanksgiving day, my family will assemble the kits together as our Thanksgiving activity. We'll drop the kits at Rosie's Place in the days following the holiday. — Nina Max Daly, Brookline, Mass.

This Thanksgiving instead of having our usual 40 family members over, we're doing nuclear family only. But, in deference to the trying times, I'm setting up a treasure hunt for my kids similar to the hunt and click adventures you can play on your phone. There are riddles to solve, rhymes to figure out and puzzles to crack. — Andrew Griffin, Lowell, Mass.

For Thanksgiving, we are going to work on potty training our 3-year-old. The 7-year-old will probably play some Minecraft with his friends online. We may venture out for a trail walk or a playground if it’s nice. It’ll be pretty different, but probably much more chill (with more pee on the ground). I suspect Christmas will be the same. But I’m okay. There will be more years ahead if we are careful (hopefully, right?) and my kids are little enough that it will just be that “one weird year.” — Jaimee Bellissimo, Acton, Mass.

Who needs turkey anyway?

We held a family vote and agreed that we don't even like turkey, so we're going to fry chicken instead. I’m so thankful that the six of us actually like each other. We'll have fun frying chicken and baking cookies and starting to get ready for Christmas. I have some ideas about things we can drop off for our neighbors and mail some friends that will require advance planning. We love a family project, so we will make that happen. -- KJ Dell’Antonia , Lyme, New Hampshire

This year the bird will be smaller, fewer potatoes will be mashed, and there will be only one vegetable, and a half portion of cranberry sauce, flecked with fresh ginger, toasted pecans, orange zest and maple syrup. And for dessert: cranberry cheesecake. Because some traditions should not disappear. — Kathy Gunst, Maine

We held a family vote and agreed that we don't even like turkey, so we're going to fry chicken instead. KJ Dell'Antonia

It will be my wife and me and intermittent Zoom with friends and family around the country and world (Ravenna, Italy, Curichiba, Brazil and Paris, France). Will start with Veuve Cliquot, smoked gouda, himalayan pink salt crackers, fig jam. Then because no guests — we don't have to make a turkey. Instead, we’ll roast chicken with sausage stuffing and gravy, mashed Yukon golds, roasted autumnal veggies, pecan and pumpkin crustless pie (in ramekins). Did I mention a bottle of Barolo? I will miss our guests dearly but with just two, we can splurge on higher-end wines! — Dede, Boston, Mass.

We're staying home with our immediate family, but still planning on turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy and pumpkin pie, dammit! And the National Dog Show — when I found out it was still airing this year I literally almost cried with happiness. — Jane Roper, Melrose, Mass.

I’m glad that I don’t have to pretend to cook a turkey because I prefer ham — and no one will be there to give me grief. Same thing with holiday decorations — I already have my Christmas playlists created. I usually get a lot of pushback from the kids about letting Thanksgiving settle, but they’re not here, so here comes Johnny Mathis! Lastly, we will be playing “Black Jeopardy” with booze with family all over the country. It is the best thing about this pandemic. Also, it is hilarious to see my white husband try to answer when he knows nothing about Black culture. — Deb Beaupre, Meriden, New Hampshire

I’ve declared that I am not going to cook the blasted dried out white meat turkey. We have an outdoor smoker, so I am smoking a rib roast, deliciously rubbed in my favorite seasonings. My husband makes homemade bread and it fills the house with bakery aromas. I am Native American (Eastern Cherokee) and my husband is descended from a servant on the Mayflower, so Thanksgiving was always a discussion of whether I would go protest in Plymouth, or have turkey at home. -- Nina S. Wampler

Since there will only be six of us, my husband is going to make Thanksgiving-themed pizzas: Turkey & cranberry. Butternut squash, ricotta and sage. Potato and rosemary. Maybe brussels sprouts and pancetta. — Nina Max Daly, Brookline, Mass.

Reasons to be grateful  

I am so very thankful that no one in our family has gotten sick. It is often hard to be as careful as we all need to be, but it will all be worth it! Like many people say: We won’t gather this year so we can gather next year. -- Lois Johnson, Mashpee, Mass.

I am thankful my family is healthy, are all mask wearers, and that I have some family locally to celebrate with. I am thankful for the coming vaccines, and thankful that the new administration seems to care about us all. I am thankful for more little things like phone calls, texts, emails and zooms. — Cheryl, Springfield, Mass.

I love the holiday season, and this year I love it more than ever. The pandemic has forced me to focus on planning moments of joy to look forward to, so I'm leaning hard into the holiday rituals that I can still safely do, and looking for new ones to add. — Jaclyn Friedman

Any disappointment I feel about making adjustments now feels tempered by hope. Also science. Sara Shukla

I’m feeling grateful that we’ve gotten this far. In the spring, the holidays seemed a lifetime away. Any disappointment I feel about making adjustments now feels tempered by hope. Also science. — Sara Shukla, Rhode Island

During an ER shift in a pandemic surge, I’m grateful for that moment when I can take off my n95 mask, surgical mask, goggles and face shield and drink water. This gets me to think about PPE and the relationship between protection and security. My heart jumps to quiet mornings having coffee with my wife and the joy of an unexpected call from my son, who's away at college. I crave moments of laughter with my family and friends, with colleagues and patients, too. I realize that might sound odd, to seek laughter in the ER, a space where fear, tragedy, and loneliness converge. But shared laughter requires lowering our guard. It's a tiny gesture of gratifying vulnerability. — Jay Baruch , M.D., Providence, Rhode Island

I’m thankful for my family’s health and safety. As difficult as schooling is, I’m also thankful to have my children safely at home with us. — H., Cambridge, Mass.

I’m grateful for our happy 3-month-old who is our greatest gift every day. In an extraordinarily difficult year, we feel supremely blessed. — Tafadzwa Muguwe, M.D., Boston, Mass.  

I'm grateful for my loved ones' health, for the imminent end of a hate-filled era, and for the knowledge that we are resourceful and resilient enough to forge a new sort of togetherness. — Julie Wittes Schlack, Cambridge, Mass.

My 40-year-old husband was diagnosed with brain cancer during the pandemic. He has had two craniotomies as a result. I am beyond thankful for the surgery he had last week at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where his neurosurgeon was able to remove the entire tumor. — Ellen Ellis, Chelmsford, Mass.

I have been making masks throughout this time, and am thankful to all the people who have helped me distribute more than 1,400 of them. — Nancy Kelly, Lowell, Mass .

I am thankful for so many things that I can't begin to count! I wish I could make people stop and look around at what they have and stop complaining about what they don't have. — Patricia Garnett, Marshfield, Mass.  

I count my blessings every night when my head hits my pillow; I start with my pillow and go from there. I feel so blessed to have found this truth: If the only prayer you ever say is "thank you," it is enough. — Carolyn Griffin, Plymouth, Mass.

Follow Cognoscenti on Facebook and Twitter .

This segment aired on November 24, 2020.

• Traer Scott: The Pandemic Is Giving Me The Thanksgiving Of My Dreams: No Turkey, No Small Talk
• Here &amp; Now: Suggestions For A Smaller But Still Festive Thanksgiving From Chef Kathy Gunst
• The ARTery: Finding Meaning, And Making Alternative Plans, For A Pandemic Thanksgiving

Frannie Carr Toth Editor, Cognoscenti Frannie Carr Toth was the editor of WBUR's opinion page, Cognoscenti.

Cloe Axelson Senior Editor, Cognoscenti Cloe Axelson is an editor of WBUR’s opinion page, Cognoscenti.

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Philippine tradition of 'long Christmas' survives Covid and typhoons

Festive season usually last four months but this year as well as the pandemic there have been three strong storms

T he strains of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer echo around a popular shopping mall in Quezon City, Manila. A band of mechanical snowmen, dressed in Santa hats, sway back and forth to the music, as shoppers – socially distanced – browse stacks of baubles and Christmas lights.

In the Philippines , a majority Catholic country, festive preparations are well and truly under way already. The country has one of the longest Christmas periods in the world, with celebrations beginning at the start of September and, for some, lasting as late as Valentine’s Day.

This year festivities will inevitably be different. On top of a ban on gatherings, and restrictions on church attendance, the economic impact of the coronavirus has left millions without work. The country has also faced three strong typhoons over recent weeks, including Vamco , which has killed at least 67 people as well as causing devastating flooding.

Some are torn over whether to put up their decor or “tone down” celebrations given the difficulties facing the country, according to Ambeth Ocampo, a historian and author.

For others the challenges of 2020 make it especially important to celebrate Christmas, even if the usual shopping sprees and parties are not possible. “We are still thankful because our family is complete. As long as we are together we’re OK,” said Nancy Endeno. “Our Christmas tree is up. I’m here to buy additional decorations,” she said, as she haggled with other shoppers at the side street stores selling parols – a traditional, and pricey, Philippine Christmas lantern.

Sato Laxa, who runs a shop on Granada street in Manila, sold 10 lanterns on Saturday afternoon. Sales are not as good as previous years but he is happy to be selling at all.

“We started getting buyers in September although we weren’t selling much. Sales have been very good lately,” Laxa said. Shoppers can pay anything from P3,000 (about £47/US$60) to P9,000 for the multi-coloured lanterns.

It is not clear why Christmas celebrations start so early in the Philippines, and it hasn’t always been this way, according to Ocampo. “Traditionally, Christmas started with the nine-day Misa de Gallo – literally Rooster Mass,” he said, referring to nine dawn masses leading to Christmas. “There is no cultural or religious reason for the long Christmas,” he said, but it may be a commercial ploy to encourage people to begin their shopping early.

Others say the extended festivities are unsurprising given Filipinos’ love of celebrations – there are 19 public holidays this year and a fiesta for each of its 146 cities and 1,488 municipalities.

The Christmas season traditionally ends on 6 January with the feast of Three Kings, “but some people extend beyond that to Chinese New year or even Valentine’s to keep the decor up and keep a festive mood”, said Ocampo.

Laxa is optimistic that people will still find a way to celebrate over the coming months. “Problems do not stop Filipinos from celebrating Christmas,” he said. “Be it a pandemic or typhoons, we manage to recover.”

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Once again, COVID means scaled-back Christmas celebrations around the world

The Associated Press

Palestinian scout bands parade through Manger Square at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, during Christmas celebrations, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Friday. Mahmoud Illean/AP hide caption

Palestinian scout bands parade through Manger Square at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, during Christmas celebrations, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Friday.

From Bethlehem and Frankfurt to London and Boston, the surging coronavirus put a damper on Christmas Eve for a second year, forcing churches to cancel or scale back services and disrupting travel plans and family gatherings.

Drummers and bagpipers marched through Bethlehem to smaller than usual crowds after new Israeli travel restrictions meant to slow the highly contagious omicron variant kept international tourists away from the town where Jesus is said to have been born.

In Germany, a line wound halfway around Cologne's massive cathedral, not for midnight Mass but for vaccinations. The offer of shots was an expression of "care for one's neighbor" that was consistent with the message of Christmas, cathedral provost Guido Assmann told the DPA news agency.

Middle East

For a second christmas, the holy land is closed to pilgrims because of covid.

Around the world, people weary from nearly two years of lockdowns and other restrictions searched for ways to safely enjoy holiday rituals.

"We can't let the virus take our lives from us when we're healthy," said Rosalia Lopes, a retired Portuguese government worker who was doing some last-minute shopping in the coastal town of Cascais.

She said she and her family were exhausted by the pandemic and determined to go ahead with their celebrations with the help of vaccines and booster shots, rapid home tests and mask-wearing in public. She planned a traditional Portuguese Christmas Eve dinner of baked cod.

In New York City, where omicron has spread widely, people waited in long lines to get tested, many doing so as a precaution before traveling to reunite with family.

Brianna Sultan and her daughter Ava, 8, spent Friday in one of those long lines waiting for a test after they got word of another infection at school.

Coronavirus Updates

Some christmas travelers face canceled flights as the omicron surge hits airlines.

"It's a terrible way to be spending Christmas Eve," Sultan said after more than two hours in line and as the chill deepened into the evening in New York City's Harlem neighborhood. "It's terrible that we can't see our families because this COVID strain is coming back up again."

Holiday travel was dealt a blow when major airlines canceled hundreds of flights amid staffing shortages largely tied to omicron.

Sadia Reins arrived in New York City from Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday to be with with her 75-year-old mother. Reins said the two haven't spent Christmas together in two years, and despite the risks in traveling during the outbreak, she couldn't bear to be apart from her mother again this year.

Members of the winter swimming club "Pirrlliepausen" go into Lake Senftenberg, which is four degrees cold (39 Farenheit) for their traditional Christmas swim, in Seftenberg, Germany, on Friday. Bernd W'stneck/dpa via AP hide caption

Members of the winter swimming club "Pirrlliepausen" go into Lake Senftenberg, which is four degrees cold (39 Farenheit) for their traditional Christmas swim, in Seftenberg, Germany, on Friday.

"We're going to cry," she said, adding: "We talk on the phone all the time, but it's not the same as looking at someone."

In Britain, where the coronavirus variant is ripping through the population, some houses of worship hoped to press on.

At St. Paul's Old Ford, an Anglican church in East London, priests planned to hold services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But to protect parishioners, the church called off its Nativity play.

"You might have to cancel the service, but you can't cancel Christmas,'' said the Rev. April Keech, an associate priest. "You can't stop love. Love still stands."

Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass as Italy sets pandemic record of new cases

Numerous churches in the U.S. canceled in-person services, including Washington National Cathedral in the nation's capital and historic Old South Church in Boston. Others planned outdoor celebrations or a mix of online and in-person worship.

In Rome, a maskless Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass before an estimated 2,000 people in St. Peter's Basilica, where admission was limited and worshippers had to wear masks.

While the number of faithful was far more than the 200 allowed in last year, it was a fraction of the 20,000 the basilica can seat. Before the pandemic, St. Peter's was routinely packed for midnight Mass.

Women wearing masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus work on decorations to celebrate Christmas at a church in Bali, Indonesia, on Friday. Firdia Lisnawati/AP hide caption

Women wearing masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus work on decorations to celebrate Christmas at a church in Bali, Indonesia, on Friday.

In Germany, churchgoers faced a thicket of health restrictions and limits on attendance. Some had to show proof of vaccination or testing.

Frankfurt's cathedral, which can hold 1,200 people, offered only 137 socially distanced spaces, all of which were booked days in advance. Singing was allowed only through masks.

People in the Netherlands tried to make the best of the holiday, despite living under one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe. All nonessential shops were closed, including bars and restaurants, and home visits were limited to two people per day, four on Christmas.

"We are just meeting with some small groups of family for the next few days," Marloes Jansen, who was waiting in line to buy the traditional Dutch kerststol, a Christmas bread with fruits and nuts.

In Mexico, piñatas are a Christmas essential full of history, art and treats

A glitch in a computerized appointment system prevented scores of people from scheduling COVID-19 tests and undermined the government's efforts to administer booster shots in a country already lagging far behind its neighbors.

In France, some visited loved ones in the hospital. In the Mediterranean city of Marseille, the intensive care unit at La Timone Hospital has been taking in more and more COVID-19 patients in recent days.

Amelie Khayat has been paying daily visits to her husband, Ludo, 41, who is recovering from spending 24 days in a coma and on a breathing machine.

They touched their heads together as she sat on his bed, and now that he is strong enough to stand, he got up to give her a farewell hug, as a medical worker put final decorations on the ICU Christmas tree.

People gather around illuminated Christmas decorations on Christmas Eve in Seoul, South Korea. Ahn Young-joon/AP hide caption

People gather around illuminated Christmas decorations on Christmas Eve in Seoul, South Korea.

Parisians lined up at chocolate shops, farmers' markets and testing centers. France has posted record numbers of daily COVID-19 infections, and hospitalizations have been rising, but the government has held off on imposing curfews or closings during the holidays.

"It does affect our enthusiasm to celebrate Christmas. It does makes us a bit sad. But at least we are sure not to contaminate or get contaminated. We will all do the test in our family," said Fabienne Maksimovic, 55, as she waited in line at a pharmacy in Paris to get tested.

In Antwerp, Belgium, Christmas trees hung upside down from windows in a protest against the closing of cultural venues.

In Bethlehem, the scene was much more festive than it was a year ago, when musicians marched through empty streets. This year, hundreds of people gathered in Manger Square as bagpipe-and-drum units streamed through.

Before the pandemic, Bethlehem would host thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world. The lack of visitors has hit the city's hotels, restaurants and gift shops especially hard.

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Christmas and COVID-19: How to celebrate safely and still have fun

Even with the COVID-19 vaccine being distributed across the U.S., we need to continue staying vigilant through the winter holidays to help slow the spread of the virus. While it may seem unnatural to turn down invitations to visit with family and friends at this time of year, it's important to remember that there's a good reason for it.

That doesn't mean you have to skip the holidays altogether. There are many ways to celebrate — even while following the COVID-19 safety guidelines recommended by public health officials. Remember, following these rules will not only help keep you from getting sick, but it'll also help you protect your friends and loved ones, especially those who may be at higher risk like the elderly and others with preexisting conditions .

Safe ways to celebrate the holidays

If you want to be as safe as possible this holiday season, but you're not sure what the best strategies are, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers easy-to-follow guidelines on its website for managing holiday celebrations and small gatherings this winter.

With coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths on the rise across the country, the safest way to celebrate is "at home with people who live with you," according to the CDC. If you want to celebrate with others who don't live with you, a virtual celebration is the option that poses the lowest risk.

Even small in-person gatherings are risky, though indoor gatherings are riskier than outdoor ones, notes the CDC. The duration of the gathering is a factor, too, as those exposed to someone with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more significantly increases the risk of contracting the virus.

Health & Wellness Should you create a COVID-19 'winter bubble'? Experts weigh in

Tips for hosting or attending a gathering.

Despite the strong recommendations to stay home and celebrate only with members of one's own household, many Americans are still planning to celebrate with others.

If you're planning to attend or host a small celebration, the CDC advises you to:

• Discuss expectations ahead of time with your host (or guests, if you're hosting)
• Check COVID infection rates in the area
• Limit the number of people at the gathering
• Host gatherings outdoors when possible
• Open windows for better ventilation, if staying indoors
• Require guests to wear masks , keep distance and wash hands frequently

And remember, even though pop-up tents and outdoor dining bubbles have become a popular way to dine out with others, some pose less risk than others. The ones that are open on the sides or that can be rolled up from the bottom tend to provide more air circulation so the CDC considers them a safer choice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CI1BV4aly1m/

How to handle food and drinks

"Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or eating is associated with directly spreading COVID-19," according the CDC. "It is possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, including food, food packaging or utensils that have the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes."

When eating and drinking at a holiday gathering, the CDC advises:

• Guests to bring food for themselves or their own households
• Wearing masks while preparing food and drinks or serving anyone who isn't a member of your household
• Taking advantage of single-option servings, like this awesome-looking " jarcuterie ," when feasible (or designating one person to serve sharable items)
• Everyone to wash their hands for 20 seconds before handling or consuming food or drink and after taking out the trash

Keep Spirits High

Don't worry. Christmas 2020 isn't canceled . Just because it's safer to do things differently this year, doesn't mean you can't still have fun ! Do a socially-distanced cookie swap , try making a special recipe like these Peppermint-Brownie Christmas cookies , construct a gingerbread house from scratch , design your first " charcuterwreath ," mix up some Christmas cocktails or start a new tradition like Hoda Kotb did with her daughters.

You can also just keep it simple and order takeout , these restaurants will be open on Christmas .

After all, the spirit of the season is really that we are all in this together, and there's a light at the end of the tunnel in 2021!

Ronnie Koenig is a writer for TODAY.com, covering the food and pop culture beats. She also writes about health and wellness, parenting and relationships for NBC Better and TMRW x TODAY, serves as a senior editor for New Jersey Family, and contributes to The New York Times and Real Simple. She is a graduate of Barnard College and a mom of twins.

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The philippine christmas season in the face of the covid-19 pandemic.

Facing families concerned about relatives verging on homelessness during the COVID lockdown, a Malacañang official emphasized that these locally stranded individuals (LSIs) will be able to return to their provinces by Christmastime. Since March, over 130,000 LSIs, bereft of employment due to the pandemic, have been sent back to their home provinces through the Hatid Tulong initiative. At the time of writing, only about 500 LSIs are left to be transported.

Contrary to the “normal” beginnings of the Philippine Christmas season in September (dubbed “longest Christmas season in the world” by the Guinness Book of World Records), the COVID-19 pandemic has put Christmas at a slow start for many Filipinos. The Extended Community Quarantine (ECQ) has stifled small and medium-sized businesses that provide goods and services specific to the holiday seasons, such as the artisans who make parol [elaborate star-shaped lanterns represent the Star of Bethlehem] and other Christmas decorations. Demand is down and anxieties are high; as an article from the Philppine Inquirer remarks, “ For the over three million people who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic, the last thing on their mind is buying a wind-up Santa climbing up and down a chain rope.” And despite the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) stressing that Christmas products will not experience a price hike because of this, the disruptions that the pandemic is causing are having very real effects on Christmas traditions–as seen from the plight of the LSIs.

Filipinos across the country are expecting some wide changes to what was once a near-permanent Christmas tradition. Churches are likely to continue being closed even for the simbang gabi (lit. night mass), a series of daily masses during the 9 nights before Christmas; this also means another infliction on the food vendors that sell Christmas-themed snacks outside the church, such as bibingka and puto bumbong . In adapting to the new ECQ environment, online resellers on Facebook are becoming more popular, with some of the resellers even negotiating with customers in real time through a livestream. As for the tradition of visiting extended family for the children to ask for an aguinaldo (a Christmas “bonus” of money given to children), medical experts are discouraging large communal activities . They are also prescribing that any future Christmas gatherings are not to have alcohol nor videoke .

This situation has reminded me of how much less visible Christmas is as a focal point in Philippine studies circles. The Filipino tradition of the pasyon , for example, has been widely talked about in academia due to Rey Ileto’s Pasyon and Revolution (and partly explored in the the Canella reading for this class), but I believe that the rich Christmas traditions in the Philippines deserve at least equal consideration in academic circles. Like the pasyon , it is also an interesting amalgamation of the indigenous and the colonial, but the more vulgar nature of Christmas means that various traditions have been more influenced by “modernity”–fake Christmas elms, holiday consumerism, etc. One could even say that the pandemic is a continuation of the “modernity” that continues to influence the lives of Filipinos both rural and urban, and likewise the Filipinos’ negotiation with modernity rages on.

So interesting, Orven. I think you are totally right about the way Christmas in the Philippines has been overlooked by scholars. There is probably something about the unspoken lingering remnants of Orientalism–how scholars look at the commercialism of Christmas and assume it is not “authentically” Filipino. But you cleverly show how important Christmas is, and also how this importance becomes central to politicking around Christmas. On another note, all the discussions and media around Christmas that you describe really remind me of the way folks in Vietnam talk about the lunar New Year.

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Today’s front page, Saturday, April 27, 2024

Celebrating Christmas amid the pandemic

• BusinessMirror
• December 23, 2020
• 2 minute read

Covid-19 may have upended life in countries where it unleashed its fury, but it failed to dampen the Christmas spirit in the Philippines, where the yuletide season is celebrated as early as September. While the country remains under quarantine, Filipinos will find a way to celebrate the season and express their love to family and friends through their gifts. Despite the quarantine restrictions aimed at stopping Covid-19 on its tracks, families will still gather around the dinner table and partake of the traditional holiday fare.

Unfortunately, the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the Philippines, based on the latest data released by the Department of Health. The Covid-19 cases added in the DOH’s daily tally have not gone done below 1,000 despite the restrictions imposed by the government. As of December 21, the Philippines has already logged 461,505 cases, of which 23,341 are active.

Hospitals around the country are dealing with these Covid-19 cases, on top of the other health issues of Filipinos—cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. These Covid-19 cases have already exacted a heavy toll on public health since mid-March, when the government first implemented the lockdown to stop the spread of Covid-19. Because they are badly needed in Covid-19 wards, many of our health workers will not be able to spend the holidays with their loved ones this year.

We could help our health workers cope with their increasing workload by avoiding certain practices and by taking things in moderation, such as alcohol and cholesterol-laden food, which could cause heart diseases. We should heed the advice of the DOH to avoid large gatherings and to hold virtual parties instead (See “It’s going to be a virtual Christmas, says DOH,” in the BusinessMirror, November 25, 2020). Overcrowded areas should also be avoided to minimize possible exposure to the virus.

For those who want to cook their Noche Buena, meals should be carefully planned to avoid food waste, and to consider healthy options. Food that is thrown away will usually end up in landfills and produces methane, a greenhouse gas. We also urge restaurants to see to it that members of their kitchen staff are observing safe food handling practices to ensure the quality and safety of their food products.

It is customary for Filipinos to celebrate the holidays with firecrackers or fireworks, but these should be avoided this year. Fireworks and firecrackers, including kwitis, luces, fountain and the prohibited piccolo, injured more than 160 Filipinos who welcomed 2020 (See, “DOH reports sharp drop in fireworks injury as PNP declares zero deaths from stray bullets,” in the BusinessMirror, January 2, 2020). Aside from these injuries, fireworks could cause respiratory diseases and pollute the air.

While merrymaking during the holidays will somehow ease the anxiety brought about by the pandemic, letting our guards down will only bring more suffering and pain, particularly if our loved ones get sick. Throwing caution to the wind at this time will further burden our health-care system, which continues to grapple with rising Covid-19 cases. We do not have to “cancel” Christmas, but the sacrifices we make this year to stay healthy would ensure us of more holiday celebrations after the pandemic is over. Stay safe this Christmas.

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Christmas 2021: How to celebrate the festival in pandemic

Christmas 2021: we have prepared a list of things you can do for christmas this year..

Christmas 2021: Merry Christmas! That time of the year is here again. The festival of colours, lights and happiness have made their way for the year 2021 and we cannot keep calm – especially after last-year's Christmas celebrations which was spent in isolation, in scare of the pandemic and in uncertainty. The pain of having missed out on seeing our near and dear ones for the holiday season have made us anticipate this year's celebrations a lot more.

ALSO READ: Christmas 2021: History, Significance and all you need to know about this day

However, the pandemic is not over yet. In fact, it is far from being over. With the new Omicron variant making its way in several countries, the restrictions are again in place and the scare has returned. As the fear of contracting the new variant again grapples the world, it has dim the lights of the Christmas celebrations, yet again. However, we can still celebrate the festival – at home, with the family and by having a calm and low-key day with our loved ones. We have prepared a list of things you can do for Christmas this year:

Tapatrisha is Content Producer with Hindustan Times. She covers stories related to health, relationships, and fashion. ...view detail

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