​How to Celebrate the Holidays from a Distance

The holidays are going to look a lot different this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But just because things are different doesn't mean you can’t enjoy the most wonderful time of the year with those you love. Here are some creative ways you can get in the Christmas spirit while social distancing.

Don’t Skimp on Decorations

When you’re stuck inside most of the season and can’t see as many friends and family members, it’s hard to get in a very festive mood. One of the easiest ways to change this is by making sure your home completely embodies the Christmas spirit. Go big with decorations this year. Deck the halls with all the tinsel, mistletoe, shiny glass balls, and more that your heart desires. When you’re in an atmosphere that looks like Christmas, you’ll feel more Christmas-y!

Unwrap Virtually

Although gifts may not be the reason for the season, you can’t deny the excitement of unwrapping presents on Christmas day. Thankfully doing a social distancing gift exchange is easy! But rather than everyone just opening gifts when they come in the mail, save them for a special reveal! Open gifts together over Zoom or another video chatting platform.

If you’re looking for a gift to really wow this season, consider purchasing a music box from Music Box Attic. This is the perfect novelty gift for even your loved ones who are hard to shop for. And with so many different options to choose from, you can easily cross several people off your list. You can also finish off the virtual gift exchange by singing together!

Watch Christmas Films Together

Whether your favorite is Elf, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, A Christmas Carol, or something else, one of the best parts about the holidays is watching Christmas movies with those you love. This year, you may not be able to invite loved ones over to binge your favorites, but you can still watch together even while you’re physically apart. You can add the Watch Party extension to your browser for Netflix and Disney+ or utilize this feature on Amazon Prime. Your watching experience will be in-sync, and you’ll be able to laugh and cry together at all your favorite scenes.

Compete in a Virtual Decorating Competition

Decorating gingerbread houses is a fun tradition many families already have. If you want to make this activity even more fun this year, turn it into a virtual competition! Each participating family can be responsible for decorating a house. Make the grandparents judge over Zoom! Everyone will be included, and a little healthy competition never hurt anyone.

Swap Recipes for Holiday Treats

It just wouldn’t be the holiday season without festive sweets and treats. Tasty snacks are so much more fun when you can share the joy of all-things-sugar with the ones you love. Why not try a recipe exchange, holiday style? Get a group of friends or family and randomly assign each person another person’s recipe to try. It’s like Secret Santa but so much more delicious!

Have a Safe, Socially-Distanced Holiday

By doing some of these holiday-related festivities this year, you can stay safely distanced from people outside of your bubble while still enjoying some of your favorite things that will make it feel more like Christmas time.