Celebrating in the Midst of DIVOC: A Guide to Healthy Holidays This Fall

 FALL in Love with these Autumn Holiday Socially Distanced Plans

As fall advances, it’s clear that the 2020 holiday season will be unlike any other. The leaves are changing from green to orange and red, the wind blows cooler and cooler, and as the days tick by we draw closer to Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and then the winter holidays- Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. 

As far away as it may feel, the New Year is just around the corner. But as fall and winter holidays approach, DIVOC restrictions and social distancing are threatening traditional holiday celebrations.

Your event planners recognize how important it is to honor and celebrate our traditions while still maintaining your health and safety, so we’ve put together a list of ideas on how to spend the upcoming holidays safely connected to loved ones.

LABOR DAY

Traditionally the holiday of barbecues and weekends at the lake, you can still connect with loved ones to celebrate your Labor Day. For people who live near each other, consider hosting a picnic at a local park. Give yourselves plenty of social distancing space while still enjoying a meal together. Alternatively, stream your favorite movie together from different locations through sites like Netflix Party or Kast and share a movie night under the stars just as if you were at your cabin.

Etsy

HALLOWEEN (unofficial holiday)

Trick or treating is almost easier when you add social distancing into the mix! Set up stations around your house with different candy jars and decorations and create a contactless miniature trick or treat route, or organize a car parade for each tricker treater to march up to and receive some goodies! You can also host a Zoom party (costumes required, of course) and share spooky stories against a digital Halloween background with each other from the comfort of your own room.

Etsy

THANKSGIVING

Though your heart may not feel as full without your house packed with relatives, Thanksgiving doesn’t have to feel lonely. If you’re missing the Macy’s Parade, watch a rerun of one from previous years and play a scavenger hunt to see what things you can find on the screen!

Plan a video-crafting date with a loved one and compete to see who can make the best paper-hand turkey, or even stream a relative to get their perfect gravy recipe. 

Etsy

CHRISTMAS

While Christmas may be one of the hardest holidays to lose, you can still spend precious time with your family and friends. One fun way to get in the holiday spirit is to plan a Christmas decoration tour!

Set up a caravan of friends or loved ones and drive around your neighborhood or other local areas and vote on who has the best decorations! If you’re missing the fun in the snow, head to a park or field with some friends and see who can build the best social distancing snowman!

Sending homemade holiday cards by mail is a wonderful way to connect with family that lives far away, and you can always Zoom together on Christmas morning to open presents together.

Etsy

KWANZAA

The Nguzo Saba will guide families into traditional celebrations even from a distance. Do a virtual week of presentations by assigning each of the seven principles to a different person, placing them in charge of guiding the storytelling and musical choices that evening. 

Mail drawings or clippings of the traditional symbols to your family members as a way to learn about each’s importance, and finish the week off with Zawadi and kinara crafting together before mailing them to their recipients.

Etsy

HANUKKAH

A holiday centered around an underdog victory can certainly withstand the challenge of social distancing! You can still light the menorah together through Zoom or FaceTime, and even trade off who gets to light certain candles on specific nights.

Mailing Hanukkah greetings and gifts is a nice way to feel your family’s presence even if you’re far apart, and there are digital dreidel games that will let you compete just as ferociously as you have in years past!

Etsy

NEW YEAR

The New Year will be a welcome change for many of us, and luckily it’s not too challenging to plan some fun New Year’s events while social distancing. For warmer locales, consider having a garden party with carefully spread out chairs and tables. 

Count down to the New Year and toast from a distance with your loved ones present. You can find a ton of great firework show recordings online, so end your night by hopping on YouTube or another video platform for a spectacular yet safe firework show under the *virtual* stars.

Celebrating in the Midst of DIVOC: A Guide to Healthy Holidays This Fall

Final Thought

Though holidays might feel like an impossible or overwhelming scenario, there are plenty of ways to still celebrate and see your loved ones. Whether it’s via Zoom or car parade, you’re sure to fall in love with the autumn and winter holidays again, and the magic of the season will soon make everything seem wonderful.