October is the month when Thanksgiving is celebrated along with other holidays. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have changed how we celebrate various occasions. The same is true with how we will spend Thanksgiving this year.
Coronavirus is still very real and going out or hosting parties at our homes are still carry risks and may put our loved ones in grave danger especially our grandmothers and grandfathers. And so, we need to find new ways to celebrate holidays during this pandemic. Trying to celebrate virtually is one way.
Cases are still spiking but since we now have technological advancements, a virtual celebration is the wisest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year especially if our loved ones are away from us and can’t travel back for Thanksgiving to avoid coronavirus transmission.
Here are ways how to prepare a virtual thanksgiving during this pandemic:
- Plan ahead
Make a family group chat to plan for the things in preparation for Thanksgiving. Sort out ingredients to buy in the grocery and purchase ahead of time instead of shopping during peak hours or peak season, where a lot of people will be lining up for groceries. This will let you avoid unnecessary contact with other people.
- Set up a virtual video conference
On Thanksgiving day, set up a zoom call meeting with family members that are away. Converse with each other while eating dinner together even if it is happening in zoom calls or other virtual call platforms. Make use of the many options like stickers and background changes and filters to make your family calls entertaining and fun.
- Prepare games to play
Even if you are celebrating virtually, there are still many ways to spice up the occasion for your entire family. Prepare for games where you can both play digitally on the other side of the screen. Search for ice breaker games that can be played online. Make use of props that can be easily found at home and are available to both your family and your long-distance relatives.
- Send out gifts ahead of time
There are still ways to be generous at this time. Make use of delivery services where you can send gifts or food or other things for people just around your neighborhood. If your family member is away or outside Canada, you can still send out gifts ahead of time through online delivery services so they can receive it just in time for Thanksgiving. The thoughtful gesture will sure make a difference.
- List down the things that you are personally thankful for this year
Thanksgiving is a time to be reminded that even in this time of uncertainty and pandemic, there are still a lot of things to be grateful for. So, let everyone in your video conference group with family and friends speak for the things they are thankful for this year. This is a very meaningful tradition that you can make with one another as a family. This can also remind each other that even if bad things are happening around the world and even if the coronavirus made things so difficult, the fact that your loved ones are still alive and are with you with food to eat is still comforting. Your family can celebrate with each other and that is what’s important. It is a big thing to be thankful for and is certainly worth being joyful of.
- Catch up with one another
Make real conversations with one another. Ask your loved ones and family members deep questions. How are they coping up? What struggles are they experiencing? How is their mental and emotional health? Be vulnerable with one another by opening up to your children, your mother, father, or siblings. At the end of the day, the family is the most important thing to be celebrated. We want to take care of our physical health during this pandemic, but looking into each other’s mental health is crucial as well. And conversations, even though they are happening online, are important to have. Doing this with our relatives and loved ones make the bond stronger. The conversations will also serve as a reminder that they are not alone.
According to health authorities in Canada, it is better to celebrate virtually than to compromise the health of each of our families. Authorities currently promote virtual celebrations as an “act of love” to one another. It’s a sacrifice that we have to make in order to protect our most vulnerable members.
Coronavirus led families and households into a spiral of difficulties. But even though we cannot meet each other face to face, we can still make thanksgiving more meaningful by our efforts to connect virtually. Distance does not matter as long as we make an effort to make each other feel special, seen, and loved.
We do this so we can avoid contracting and spreading this dreaded disease. However, if you are experiencing symptoms of covid-19, you can drop by a walk in clinic Edmonton near you. If you are not from the area, you can search for walk-in clinics around you for testing. It is advised to get yourself tested if you have any symptoms concerning COVID-19. Don’t compromise the health of your family. Get tested. Continue to follow protocols. Celebrate virtually this Thanksgiving.
