Home for the Holidays

The 2020 holiday season is nothing like anyone would have expected a year ago. However, folks are resilient and will find ways to celebrate, even if it has to be done separately.

So how can you enjoy a socially distant holiday season? There’s plenty of activities families can do while hanging out at home.

First things first, make your home as festive as possible. That means decorating, and not just the tree. This year is so out there that you might as well go full-Griswold. Put up lights, wrap everything in garland, dig out all the tacky ornaments, and bask in all the holiday glory.

What’s the next best thing about the holidays? Gotta be the food! Baking Christmas cookies and decorating them is not only fun, but also very tasty – way better than store-bought! This is also a great way to bond with family that you can’t be with in person; ask Grandma if she can share her special recipes, and if she’s tech-savvy, have her bake along with you over Zoom. We live in an age of advanced communication technology, so we might as well use it.

Once you’ve got your treats all taken care of, why not get into your pajamas and cozy up on the couch for a Christmas movie marathon? Switch things up by flipping back and forth between the classics and modern favourites, such as A Miracle of 34th Street and Elf. Or binge on some “Are these actually Christmas movies,” like Die Hard or Gremlins and hold a family vote.

Or, if you’d rather do an activity, dig out those old board games and set up a family tournament. Play several rounds of one game, or rotate different games and see who comes out as the champion. If board games aren’t your thing, try doing a puzzle instead. Puzzles are great because they get the brain working and leave you with a sense of accomplishment once you pop the last piece in. Just try not to lose any pieces under the couch.

If you’re feeling creative, this would be the ultimate year to make a commemorative ornament for your tree. Hit up Pinterest for a salt dough recipe that you can mold into shapes, bake, and then paint. Make some traditional Christmas shapes, but consider some that represent 2020; a mask? Hand sanitizer? Toilet paper? Let your creative side shine!

Maybe you’re feeling a little cooped up and just need to get out of the house for a little while? In lieu of the traditional Christmas Light Up, the City of West Kelowna has instead created the Twinkle Tour. Residents are invited to take themselves on a self-guided tour of festive Christmas displays around the city. See what everyone else has been up to this holiday season! A map of all the stops on the Twinkle Tour is available at engagewk.ca

No matter how you plan to celebrate the holidays this year, stay safe and take care of each other.