Is it just me? Why do I feel like the year just started and now it’s Christmas 2020 already? A lot has happened this year, good and bad, I’m thankful for everything I have. This year has tested not only my patience but my inner courage.
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Pandemic This Christmas 2020
First and foremost, the pandemic has rapidly and increasingly affected everyone – our daily lives, our jobs, our families, our way of living, in general. I remember spending my New Year’s Day at the airport for work travel and a sudden thought came creeping like “I wish I could be with my family more during weekends and travel less this year.” And little did I know that wish would come true after two months of flying in and out for work. And it’s because of the pandemic. In March of this year, we were advised to work from home, and everything changed since then. I never really set-up a home office, but these pieces helped me a lot!
The epidemic scared me so much I didn’t leave the house for two months straight. And when things started looking better, I was so hopeful to spend the holidays with our families and friends.
We made plans to spend Thanksgiving with our friends, Christmas and New Year with our families from different states. But with this current health and economic situations, we cancelled all our plans.
Cancelled trips and plans can be frustrating but if you look at the brighter side, it means less chances of getting exposure to COVID-19. Thus, less chances of getting sick and getting your whole family sick and in danger. Surely, it’s a little saddening not to be with your loved ones for holidays, but we can always improvise! We are thinking, creative, and inventive beings.
But if you live with your family and relatives, and decided you want to host a party. Make sure to follow CDC regulations. Same thing if you want to celebrate Christmas 2020 with your friends.
However, if you can’t celebrate Christmas 2020 with your family and friends, let’s optimize the available technology. Let’s do virtual get-togethers, Skype dine-ins, and Zoom holiday celebrations! Here’s a quick cheat sheet of the items you need to get you set-up.
- Laptop – This latest release has 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with FaceTime HD camera with advanced image signal processor for clearer, sharper video calls. And get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card. No annual fee.
- Phone – Pro 12MP camera system (Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto), Initiate video calls over cellular or Wi‑Fi to any FaceTime-enabled device
- Laptop Stand – The heavy duty tripod stand features quick and convenient height adjustments, as well as quick and easy setup.
- Phone Stand – Portable and Adjustable Camera Stand Holder with Wireless Remote and Universal Clip
- Portable Speaker – Connect this to your phone or laptop for better sound quality especially if it’s for the whole group.
- Video on TV – If you want to use your TV as your screen, you can use Apple TV or Alexa.
Christmas 2020 for Military Families
If you read my previous posts, you’d know that we are a Military family and my husband is currently deployed. So, it’s just me and my daughter. And our awesome friends!
You might be wondering how we spend the Holidays… The answer is: “It depends and it’s always changing!”
Like I shared, we initially planned to spend the holidays with our families but because of the pandemic PLUS my husband’s deployment, we’re left with no choice but to just stay at home. And make the most of it!
We will still cook and prepare the Christmas table, set-up the Christmas tree and decors, and open our Christmas presents. It’s not gonna be the same as when he’s here with us, but to be your kid’s mother and father at the same time, we just have to face it and go through with it.
I’m not saying I’m not going to be sad. But I know that he will be sadder. So, we make sure to send him a piece of home for Christmas- through a Christmas Care Package! We include our family’s holiday favorites, his family matching Christmas pajamas, and other Christmas treats.
If you’re not sure what to put in there, here’s a cheat sheet for you! Here’s a Military Care Package checklist. Your service member will surely at least have a great Christmas 2020.
How the World Celebrates Christmas
It always amazes me how different culture, religion, and nation celebrate Christmas. Their traditions are unique and special.
It’s astonishing to know that in the Philippines, where I am from, we have “Misa de Gallo” which is a Catholic mass to be celebrated at dawn or night for 16 days straight. And all the kids (sometimes, adults too) roam around the streets, neighborhoods, and towns during Christmas day to know ask for Christmas money or treat, popularly known as “papasko.” This is our normal. Kids ring anyone’s doorbell or knock on anyone’s door and ask for papasko.
And in Australia, Christmas is celebrated towards the beginning of summer. Australians decorate their houses with bunches of ‘Christmas Bush’, a native Australian tree with small green leaves and cream colored flowers. And adults tell stories about Santa Claus using kangaroos to deliver presents.
In France, Santa Claus is called Père Noël (Father Christmas). In eastern France, he is accompanied by Le Pere Fouettard, a man dressed in black. And the French main Christmas meal, called ‘ Réveillon’, is eaten on Christmas Eve or early Christmas morning after people have returned from the midnight Church Service.
While in Italy, the Christmas celebrations start eight days before Christmas with special ‘Novenas’ or a series of prayers and church services. And one old Italian custom is that children go out Carol singing and playing songs on shepherds pipes, wearing shepherds sandals and hats. And on Christmas Eve, it’s common that no meat is eaten. Often a light seafood meal is eaten and then people go to the Midnight Mass service. When people return from Mass, if it’s cold, you might have a slice of Italian Christmas Cake called ‘Panettone’ which is like a dry fruity sponge cake and a cup of hot chocolate.
And it’s interesting to know that children in United Kingdom call Santa Claus, “Father Christmas.” Children believe that Father Christmas leaves presents in stockings or pillow-cases. These are normally hung up by the fire or by the children’s beds on Christmas Eve.
In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from December 12th to January 6th. And from December 16th to Christmas Eve, children often perform the ‘Posada’ processions or Posadas. And they play piñata after posadas. Also, in some states in Mexico, children expect Santa Claus to come on December 24th while in the south of Mexico, children expect presents on January 6th at Epiphany, which is known as ‘el Dia de los Reyes’.
And to save the not the best but where I live for last, the United States of America has many different traditions and ways that people celebrate Christmas, because of its multi-cultural nature. Many Americans, especially Christians will go to Church to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Many churches have special Christmas Carol services and events where the story of Christmas is told. Americans also send out Christmas Cards, like Carol singing and there’s the unusual custom of the Christmas Pickle! Eggnog is a ‘traditional’ Christmas drink in the USA.
So, now, how can we have a merry Christmas 2020?
Now, with all the different traditions and ways of celebrating Christmas all over the world, one thing is for sure this year. We are restricted to doing what we are used to. With the pandemic, we have to be a little more creative and inventive on how we can spend Christmas with our loved ones. If we can’t do our old traditions, we can always start new ones 🙂
I know, it’s not easy. But I promise, things will get better.
- Plan ahead. Decide where you want to spend your Christmas. If traveling, prioritize your and your family’s health and arrange travel plans accordingly. I use travel apps for organization purposes. Make sure to have a packing list to make sure you have everything you need. Much needed especially if you have a baby/kid/s.
If not traveling, there’s a lot of options to do. We just have to be creative and “game”.
2. Decorate your house, yard, and lawn. Part of the Christmas spirit (in our house) is decorating our Christmas tree, hanging stockings, and turning on the Christmas lights. It gives that festive feel! And the kids will surely love it. But if for some reason, you cannot decorate your house or apartment, you can always drive around the nearby neighborhoods and just see and appreciate their Holiday lightings and decors. Here are the most festive Holiday decors for Christmas 2020 that are so popular right now:
2. Bake Holiday cookies. My kiddo loves cookies like cookie monster! So, it’s a great bonding and holiday tradition to make holiday cookies. Cookie kits are available on the shelves but you can also bake from scratch. And gingerbread house!
3. Dress-up! We always wear matching family Christmas pajamas and it’s just a fun, cool family tradition. Take lots of photos and pose next to your Christmas tree, Christmas table buffet, or just around your family and friends.
Make it fun, festive, and jolly! Dress around a theme or just dress however you like. Ugly sweaters, Christmas socks, bright and shimmery are so in right now for Christmas 2020!
4. Set-up a Secret Santa with your family. For this year, we opt for virtual gift-giving. We use drawnames.com to draw names for our Secret Santa. And it’s such a fun, easy way to look forward to something this Christmas 2020. Our families are based in California, Washington, Indiana, New Jersey, Texas, and Nevada. So, this is a simple way of getting everyone together and share the Holiday spirit. I organized the drawing, we set-up the budget, created our wish lists, and we’ll be opening up the presents together over Messenger video on Christmas Eve.
Check –out our gift guides for easy gifting ideas for Christmas 2020!
HERE’S THE TOP GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUR KIDS
And the best way is to have fun with the whole family!! We designed Bingo Cards for the whole family with Christmas theme! Check it out here to download. Or Visit our Blog’s Shop Page and Choose Printable Shop.
5. Just chill. We get to have the day off from work and I would want nothing but to just relax and enjoy with my daughter. We can watch Holiday movies, have some hot coco, and snuggle. And wine, for me, of course! Perfect way to spend Christmas 2020!
6. Eat together as a family. I know this year is different because my husband is deployed. But there’s something extra exceptional when a family dines together and celebrates together. Cook something special or order to-go or have it delivered. Ah, thank goodness for Doordash and Amazon Fresh!
What about you, what’s your plans this Christmas?
