How to Make Christmas 2020 Memorable in a Good Way

This year’s holidays feel like half-measures - Zoom Thanksgiving, photoshopped Santa portraits and delivered gifts instead of lovingly placed under the tree by grandma and grandpa. Along with the grey weather, it’s easy to feel sad and worn down by the state of our reality. 

While this sadness is completely valid, just because we can’t gather and celebrate in the ways that we’re used to doesn’t mean that we can’t still enjoy the Christmas season. In the words of the Grinch: “maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more”. While we can’t exactly hold hands and sing together like the Whos in Whoville, we can take their lead in being grateful for each other and grateful that 2020 is almost coming to a close! 

Throw out the regular traditions for Christmas 2020, make some new ones and amp up the fun. Here are some suggestions for activities that your family can enjoy safely this Christmas season. 

1. Hot Chocolate Bar

Hot chocolate bar inspiration with some adults-only ingredients, credit: Taste of Home

After dinner, lay out all your favourite ingredients and have a hot chocolate bar. Here’s what our spread looks like: 

• Different flavoured hot chocolate 
• Marshmallows
• Caramel sauce
• Candy canes
• Toffee
• Organic waffle cookie (If you haven’t tried these from Spuds, then you aren’t living)

    2. Ice Cream For Dinner

This is something we usually do once in the Summer, but we’re breaking all the rules for Christmas! Your kids will get such a kick out of this and it means one less night that you have to cook up dinner. 

   3. Drive-through Christmas light show 

Drive-throughs have been utilized all year to allow us to enjoy some of our favourite holiday activities in a new way. We went to a drive-through farm to get our pumpkins for Halloween and a drive-through food truck festival in the summer. These are truly so much fun for the kids and likely won’t be experienced again after COVID-19 has gone. Some examples of light festivals to check out are the PNE Winter Lights and Glow Gardens in Langley.

   4. Hype up the hygge in your home 

If you haven’t heard of hygge ( pronounced "hoo-ga”) it refers to a feeling of coziness and comfort that creates a feeling of contentment or well-being.

My house feels like a cozy cave right now. There are rugs, heaps of blankets and pillows in every room. I’ve delayed turning on artificial lights as late as possible and rely on scented candles to light the room. The effects are cozy for Mom and Dad, and loads of fun for the kids.

Cora, the Queen of Hygge, enjoying the rug and blankets. 

   5. Get a real Christmas tree

We have an artificial tree that we have been using for near a decade. But there’s just something special about a real tree - they smell great, they’re a treat for the kids and picking one out creates a great memory. It’s also an opportunity to support a small business by getting your tree at a local farm. Even a small tree can create a fun family outing and bring a bit of extra Christmas spirit into your home. 

Don’t forget to recycle the tree - most municipalities in Metro Vancouver offer some form of curbside pickup, and virtually all of them accept drop-offs at your local recycling facility.

We hope these ideas can bring a little bit of extra joy and light to your family this holiday season. We invite you to comment and share any new traditions, big or small, that you’re creating this year. 

A Tradle Mommy Post Jahzel Misner is a Vancouver Mom, designer and toy-maker. She is on the quest to reduce her family’s footprint so that her children and their children can enjoy nature in the same way we do today.