Navigating the Holidays in the Midst of Covid-19

The holiday season is upon us.  While most people look forward to the festivities, activities, gatherings and worship that accompany the yuletide, this year may also bring along the unwelcome guests of loneliness and depression.  So, your Christmas may very well look different in 2020.  It seems that we have no other choice than to break the chain of our family traditions this year.

The pandemic has been stressful and isolating for everyone, but for families who have suffered loss it is even more of a burden.  I have prepared a few suggestions to help you make the best of the current situation while still celebrating the miracle of Jesus’ birth.  Hopefully, the following seven concrete actions will bring some joy to your holiday season. 

Baking

Delicious aromas fill the air during the holidays and probably bring back memories of Christmases past.  So, get elbow deep in flour and create delectable treats.  If you don’t have access to a kitchen there are other ways to share Christmas treats.  Perhaps you could write out some of your favorite family recipes to pass along to younger generations.

Writing

If you are so inclined, write down your own Christmas memories that you can mail out to loved ones.  This is one way to keep your history alive.  I assure you, whomever receives your stories will cherish them for generations to come.

Cards

The mail still works!  There is something in the simple act of handwriting a card that creates a profound human connection.  Send out Christmas cards to loved-ones.  If you are the creative type, you may even want to make your own cards this year.  By the way, you aren’t limited to mailing greetings to only the people you know.  Homeless shelters and soldiers enjoy receiving cards.  It lets them know that someone is thinking of them.

Read

For all you bibliophiles out there, I invite you to devour an uplifting holiday novel.  There’s nothing more comforting that snuggling up with a cup of tea and a good book to transport me into a Currier & Ives painting.  There are long lists of titles on google where you can pretty much find something that speaks to your tastes.

Cinema Therapy

Grab the popcorn and settle in for a couple of hours of escape by viewing Christmas themed movies.  The Hallmark and Lifetime channels provide a never-ending schedule of Christmas movies.  My personal favorite is It’s a Wonderful Life.  I can watch it over and over every and never tire of it.

Music

Who doesn’t like to hum along when familiar Christmas carols fill the air?  Holiday music allows us to reminisce about times when we were young.  What’s your favorite?  For me Nat King Cole’s rendition of “Oh Holy Night” stirs something within me.   Many radio stations play Christmas music 24/7 during this time of year.

Worship

For those of us who are believers, the Christmas season is inextricably intertwined with spiritual practices.  Most of the Christian faith traditions offer some type of Advent customs and rituals that can be carried out at home.  They may include; blessing of the creche, lighting Advent wreath candles, or devotional Advent calendars.

Attending church services is the highlight of Christmas for most Christian families.  To be able to worship the New Born King with a community of believers is what gives meaning to this most joyful occasion.  Sadly, during the pandemic many of us will not be able to attend services in the physical sense.  Therefore, it is up to us to seek out alternative ways to bring our religious celebrations to life.  Watch it via live stream, group zoom, broadcast services, or socially distanced gatherings, our Lord who sees all hearts will embrace us with his peace.

If after engaging in a few of the above activities you may still feel sad that you will not be with special people this Christmas, please don’t despair.    That feeling is a reality for many of us this year.  No need to deny it, it is a fact.  Acknowledge your distress.  Remind yourself this is temporary.  We do have to accept the pandemic situation, but know it is going to be OK.   The book of Matthew tells us, “See that you not be troubled for all things must come to pass.  But the end is not yet.” Mt 24:68

Submitted by Kathy Brown MS, NCC