Each year, we look forward to the holiday season as a special time to come together, celebrate, and make lifelong memories with those dearest to us. That’s no less true this year than any other, even as we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety restrictions we currently live with may rule out lavish parties or out-of-town trips for now, but they can’t lock down your Christmas spirit. On the contrary, there are still many, many ways for you and yours to safely enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.
Have you been missing the big get-togethers with friends and family in years past? Are you finding yourself strapped for fresh ideas about how to celebrate the holidays at home? Look no further than the list below for some fun, timeless, and affordable Christmas bonding activities for you and your whole family.
Put on Some Christmas Movies
Is it already common practice in your household to ring in Christmas day with a favorite holiday-themed film or two? If not, there’s no better time than now to begin the tradition, especially because movie marathons are relatively simple to set up. All you need is a widescreen TV, your favorite snacks, and some comfy seating. If your current setup is due for an upgrade, consider looking into smart televisions on holiday sale to give your family a much more cinematic experience.
And if you’re a household of movie buffs, why stop at just a couple of films? Make movie nights a regular ritual throughout the month of December, and give every family member the chance to choose what to watch. Best of all, there’s no reason to limit the audience to just those within your immediate household. Many video calling platforms and streaming services now offer workable options for screen-sharing and buddy watching, so friends and family from all over can easily join in.
Have a Game Night
Game nights are a surefire way to bring some excitement to your holiday celebrations without having to leave the house. You could revisit favorite card or board games from your childhood, for instance, or look up new games for you and your family to learn and play together. Try mixing up different kinds of games—cooperative versus competitive games, creative games, logic games, and more—to keep all players on their toes. You can also try joining Savers Appliances’ Deck of Holiday Cards, where you get the chance to win website vouchers for your online shopping. There are so many games out there nowadays that you’re guaranteed to find something everyone will enjoy.
See the Christmas Lights around Your Neighborhood
There might be fewer public events or grand holiday displays this year, but you’ll surely still have opportunities to admire the Christmas lights closer to home. Mask up and go for a walk with your family to fully appreciate your neighbors’ holiday décor, or go for a drive around your area. Make a game of identifying the biggest, fanciest displays, or stay on the lookout for particularly memorable, wacky decorations. If you like long drives, you can even put on a Christmas playlist to make the whole affair more festive.
Make a Family Greeting Video
If you’re in the market for a unique, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive alternative to the usual greeting cards, consider making a family Christmas video instead. Besides wishing the recipients a Merry Christmas, you could have your family members share what they’re thankful for from the past year or their hopes for the year to come. You can then work together to edit the messages into a one-of-a-kind digital greeting your loved ones won’t soon forget. The best part is you can easily email your video out to anyone you’d like to send it to, so it can reach recipients all over the world without the inconvenience of mailing delays and other potential setbacks. Check out this list for the best cameras and mobile phones for your video-making projects.
Give Back to Your Community
Christmas is also known as the season of giving, so there’s no better time to look for ways to help out the underprivileged in your community. As a family, research reputable non-profit organizations that support an advocacy or cause of your choice and make a shared donation in the spirit of the holidays. You can pool together old clothes, toys, and books that are still in good condition and turn them over to organizations catering to vulnerable children and families. You might also contribute to a feeding program or a community pantry to help those in need eat, rest, and celebrate as well as you would like to this Christmas season. Whatever causes you choose to support, you can be sure that any help you offer will touch the hearts of those who receive it, even if you can’t meet each other face to face.
There’s no denying that adjusting to our new normal may mean making some changes to the way we celebrate. Still, you can be assured that the loving, giving spirit of the Christmas season remains constant even so. With a little imagination and a lot of care, you and your family can surely make even the simplest celebrations something to remember.