5 New (COVID-Friendly) Holiday Traditions to Start This Year

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For many of us, Thanksgiving has forced us to accept that this holiday season will certainly be different, just as everything else has this year. We may not be hosting our usual large gatherings and we will likely have to forego the public holiday events we always look forward to attending. Instead of dwelling on the changes and what will be missed, it is also an opportunity to embrace this year and create new traditions in the process. There are plenty of Covid-friendly holiday traditions that can be modified for the current world, as well as new traditions inside the home that we simply were too busy for before. Here are some of my favorite traditions that I am totally here for:

Drive-thru Light Displays

Have the whole family cozy up in their pajamas, warm up a batch of hot cocoa in travel mugs and load up in the car to visit some of the most fabulous light displays in Central Ohio. Whether it’s a cruise through a local neighborhood or a paid event, there are so many options to choose from. Crank up the holiday tunes and enjoy a festive night in the comfort of your own car!

 

Porch Cookie Exchange

Baked goodies are a holiday staple in our home. Everyone insists on making their favorite cookies, in addition to the pies, chocolates, and cakes that fill our house with that wonderful holiday aroma. It’s also a tradition that we have always loved to share with our neighbors and friends through cookie exchanges. So this year, a porch cookie exchange it is! This can be a coordinated effort between a group of neighbors and friends, or simply just a random act of kindness from your family. Have the kids dress up as elves and drive around delivering baked goodies to the porches of your loved ones. It will surely bring a smile to all! (Here are some tips for decorating cookies with kids.)

 

Holiday Movie Night

The holiday season normally feels busy and chaotic, so take some time to enjoy the slower pace that this year brings. Snuggle up with the family in front of the TV (and maybe a warm fire) to watch a holiday classic. My husband and I are really excited to introduce our kids to Home Alone this year!

Give Back to the Community

Volunteering is very popular around the holiday season, which food banks and local organizations depend on each year to provide for people in need. And this year, people in our community need our help more than ever. Thankfully, there are many ways we can help from the comfort of our home. If you are financially able, consider adopting a family or senior community member through a reputable organization or local church. Involve your kids in the process by letting them choose or wrap the gifts and deliver them to their destination as a family. If volunteering is more your thing, there are service projects available that you can complete at home. Seeds of Caring offers kid-friendly opportunities like creating sack lunches and hygiene kits for local shelters. Whether it’s keeping the tradition alive or making it a new tradition, giving back to your community creates holiday season magic!

Buying Local

This year we have seen our beloved local businesses struggle to survive. They have relied on us to keep their livelihoods afloat as the pandemic has ravaged their industry. Continue showing your support this holiday season by checking off your Christmas list at your favorite local shops and restaurants.(Check out this list of restaurants giving out bonus gift cards if you purchase this holiday season.) Local businesses offer unique gifts that your loved ones won’t find in a big box store, and your business means so much more to your local merchants, too!

I hope you enjoy making this holiday season just as magical as the ones before for your family, and I hope that maybe this year’s traditions will carry on for years to come! There are plenty of Covid-friendly holiday traditions to explore this year!

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Tiffany Bassler
Tiffany is a small-town girl from Southwest Ohio but has called Columbus home for the past 10 years. After graduating from The Ohio State University with a Master of Social Work, she worked full-time in the community helping the underserved senior population. She married her high school sweetheart, Weston, and they decided to eventually put roots down in Lewis Center. Three kids later, this small-town girl who loves the city is learning to navigate life as a stay at home mom in the ‘burbs. She is a proud mom of two girls, a boy, and two fur babies who know how to keep life interesting! They love exploring the food scene and family activities throughout Columbus, traveling, and are currently on a journey to visit all 50 states. You can catch all their adventures and more on Instagram @bringingupbassler.