This year, in the face of a global pandemic, Christmas and the accompanying celebrations are still very much up in the air.
With many countries still experiencing high levels of cases and severe Covid restrictions, it is becoming a distinct possibility that Christmas 2020 will be unlike any other in years past.
Some countries may even be in full lockdown during this time.
So, what kind of things can we expect?
For starters, it may not even be possible to meet some of our families in person.
Instead of those huge family get-togethers that many of us are used to, we may all be celebrating at home or via Zoom.
Keep reading to find out how else Christmas can be affected.
Not so much food
Aside from the obvious, that of a reduced family size over the Christmas period, you may find that the Christmas dinner is somewhat reduced too.
This isn’t just to do with the size of your family group, though, but rather to do with the high number of poultry farms taken down by the reduced workforce in both the US and UK.
That’s right, the turkey might just be smaller or a shortage of poultry might make some families consider vegetarian alternatives.
Of course, you won’t have to order in or cook so much food this year either, if there’s less of you celebrating together.
For some, this might be a blessing in disguise.
You won’t necessarily be having your elderly family members over either, but thanks to assisted living programs still running, they’ll have plenty of support to have a great Christmas too.
Get your shopping done early
If you’re an early present buyer, this year may not affect you, but many of us are last-minute shoppers who love to browse in-store.
This year though, you may have to change the way you shop and shop online.
Beware, though, there’s likely to be a surge in online shopping and with everyone ordering their gifts in December, it’s important to check delivery times.
Don’t rely on last-minute deliveries or you may end up with some disappointed loved ones come Christmas morning.
It may also be a good idea to look to local stores and gift sellers for your needs this Christmas, as delivery demands for big, well-known businesses will be higher and it’s important to support smaller businesses struggling in the uncertain economy of 2020.
Quiet celebrations
It’s not just Christmas that’s going to be affected, but New Year celebrations too.
There are unlikely to be bars teeming with excited strangers counting down to midnight, and even annual New Year’s Eve parties will see a reduction in attendees – if they’re not altogether canceled.
With massive restrictions on public gatherings of large groups, those exciting firework sessions are also unlikely to go ahead.
Of course, it’s possible for you to buy your own fireworks and have a stunning pyrotechnic display in the back garden, but there’s not going to be massive events like the ones we have come to expect in public squares and big cities.
Most of us will have to get comfortable with the idea of a low-key New Years’ Eve this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still get dressed up and enjoy ourselves with our immediate families or even set up a virtual party over Zoom or Facetime.
Get in the spirit from home
The pantomime, a hugely popular Christmas tradition, might still go ahead, but it will be in a very different format.
Some theaters are likely to be open but with reduced seating capacity.
If you attend, you may find that there are several seats separating you from the next audience member, and depending on local restrictions, the theatres may decide not to offer drinks or snacks at their bar or in the auditorium.
Alternatively, there are plans in motion to have pantos enacted outdoors in live venues where you can drive up and watch from the warmth and safety of your car, much like a festive drive-in cinema experience.
Religious services
For those of you who like to bring in this special day with Midnight Mass, it too might be something that goes by the wayside.
Many religious buildings are currently closed and unlikely to open for Christmas day.
Those that can open are also restricted depending on the area, allowing only small groups of worshippers.
However, some churches have adapted to the strange new landscape of 2020 and begun to live stream their services, allowing parishioners to continue to worship from the safety and comfort of their own home.
Though this will be of little satisfaction to those who attend church for the social aspect, there may be some comfort to be found in keeping up your Christmas traditions in some small way.
Will Scrooge win?
With no Christmas parties, minimal numbers of people allowed to join the fun, and so much more restricting our collective plans, has the Grinch finally managed to ruin Christmas in the form of a pandemic?
No! We all know Christmas is a time of tradition and being with the people we love, and perhaps that makes the uncertainty of a socially distanced festive season seem dark and ominous, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
We’re lucky to live in a time when we can have virtual parties and eat a meal with our friends over a computer screen. ‘
We’ve got the world of online shopping at our feet so that even if we can’t be there to see all the joyful faces on Christmas morning, we can make our presence felt with a thoughtful gift.
We can worship in our own ways, and make little adjustments to our usual traditions.
With careful planning and the use of the latest video call software, Christmas can be as good as we make it.
Prepare your presents, send them out early, and get ready for a fun video call with your loved ones.
Remember, this too shall pass. To paraphrase a famous Christmas song, faithful friends who are dear to us, will gather near to us once more.