What will holidays 2021 be like? How will we celebrate?
Last year, we had safe, socially distanced holidays. I missed our big family gatherings, but we made the best of it with special foods, ZOOM gatherings and more. What will we do this year?
In-person gatherings
I'm planning a few in-person gatherings for beloved family members and I'm open to attending others. Unsure what the pandemic barometer will be like at Thanksgiving and Christmas and who will be able to come home and who will stay in place due to work or other commitments, I have to be somewhat flexible with these plans.
I've planned a women-gathering for close family members and friends. It is essentially an open house brunch at my house for any of my women friends and family members who want to come. It's a pot luck event with a Yankee swap. Hopefully we'll be able to have this. I've asked that people be vaccinated if they come.
On Christmas Eve we'll plan a more intimate family event that will include our family member's loved ones and their family members too. In time, we'll figure out what this will look like.
I'm also committing to continuing our tradition of a Christmas holiday with my intimate growing-up family and their loved ones. I'm not sure exactly when and where we'll have this, but I want to continue the tradition and keep it as inclusive as possible.
For Thanksgiving, I'm ready to go with the flow--we'll see how that goes.
Sister weekend
My sister and I have started a tradition of getting together at a special place prior to Christmas to celebrate the holiday--we bring our husbands along and always have a great time. We'll continue this tradition.
New Year's Eve
Rather than a steady tradition, we change what we do each year--we'll see what happens this New Year's Eve.
January fun
Due to my son's sports schedule, we typically have a fun January weekend that focuses on attending one of his sports events--that's always a good time, and hopefully the fact that we're all vaccinated will make this possible this year.
Gifts
This year our gifts will be small and personal. Rather than buy a lot of small items, we'll likely focus our gifts on experiences, good food, and gatherings. We may add a theme to some gifts too. I want to think about this in the days to come.
Last year I made a few homemade gifts and I'll continue that practice this year--I love the way that creating a gift for someone makes you think deeply about that person.
Outdoor adventures
Our family loves getting outdoors and having fun so we'll likely plan some enjoyable, accessible outdoor events too.
Different than the past, we'll have to be flexible and creative as we were last year since the pandemic continues to rage in many places, but thanks to the vaccines, we'll be able to celebrate with more people than just our intimate family members--this will be welcome.