In a year unlike any other, celebrating the holidays and welcoming 2021 will definitely look and feel different from raucous large gatherings of the past. 2021 might be about spending time only with those already in our household as well as shorter, socially distanced moments with those who live elsewhere.
And all of this is perfectly fine since health and safety are top priority. Plus it’s an opportunity to make room for new traditions, routines, and rituals. These are the things that give us moments to anticipate and remember.
A few suggestions:
Advent calendar. While so many people use one, so many don’t take the time—and they’re a blast! Make 2020 the year to create one. Mix it up on the daily surprises, leaving little notes and verses along with candy and gift cards. You can buy or build the calendars. One of my crafty friends made one for her family out of different colors of envelopes, and you could do the same thing with mini boxes.
Doorstop drop off. Make a night of stopping by family, friends, and neighbors’ homes with gifts, cards, or baked treats. Ring the doorbell, and if they’re there, say a quick masked greeting, and if they’re not, leave your present on the porch.
Fondue night. When I was younger, my parents and two younger brothers and I made fondue on New Year’s Eve. We’ve done this with our sons, too, but in some years, we’ve gone to friends’ houses for large parties. This year, we’re definitely doing a festive fondue with just the four of us to bring in the new year—both an oil version to cook meat and veggie and a chocolate one for dessert.
Journal. You don’t need to wait until 2021 to start reflecting on your day in a journal. A friend recently gifted me the perfect one, called the “One Line A Day” five-year memory book. It’s actually several lines for each day of the year, enough to jot down ideas, thoughts, and what you’re grateful for on that date.