Your Guide to the (Socially-Distanced, yet still) Most Wonderful Time of the Year
By: Clarissa Ashley Wiriadi
Tags: Quarantine, Gift Ideas, Philippines, Home Decor, Christmas

If you’re like me, you would understand the sorrowful feeling you get when thinking about how the option of spending the upcoming Christmas with those you love is not open. To bring back some of the Christmas spirit, I would like to remind you of the joys of this holiday season and share some tips on how we can uplift it. Who said the pandemic should stop you from having a meaningful celebration?

The year is finally coming to an end, and after two full semesters of strictly Zoom classes and homemade meals, I can confidently say that if 2020 has taught me anything, it is to make the most out of what I have. Most of us can agree that we learnt this the hard way. It truly has been a year of valuable lessons on putting the needs of others before ourselves, and also virtually staying connected with the people who matter most to us.

As we enter the final stretch of 2020, we all deserve a meaningful celebration as merry as the ones before. Don’t let the current circumstances bring you down, and strive to end the year strong, applying the values we have learnt thus far. Here is your guide to a socially-distanced Christmas time.

Hyping up your living space

We have all heard the saying ‘It all begins at home.’ Yes, it applies to the adoption of the holiday spirit, too! To get into it, we must first own it. Christmas only comes once a year, and it would be a shame to miss out on a celebration so lively, true, and universal. To begin, I recommend having the following items around.

Bluetooth speaker. Alexa, play Ariana Grande’s Santa Tell Me on repeat, because it is finally that time of the year. Blasting Christmas music after a long day of school or work would make the atmosphere of your home a bit (or a lot) merrier! In my opinion, investing in a good speaker could make all the difference. Plus, it is a device that stays useful all-year long. You may want to get one this Christmas for yourself, or perhaps as a gift to someone. Rest assured that whoever receives it would not be disappointed.

Alexa, play Ariana Grande’s Santa Tell Me on repeat, because it is finally that time of the year. Blasting Christmas music after a long day of school or work would make the atmosphere of your home a bit (or a lot) merrier! In my opinion, investing in a good speaker could make all the difference. Plus, it is a device that stays useful all-year long. You may want to get one this Christmas for yourself, or perhaps as a gift to someone. Rest assured that whoever receives it would not be disappointed. Advent calendar. Most of them are either made up of wood or cardboard, and come in 24 little doors for each of the 24 days of December leading up to Christmas day. Each would open to reveal holiday-themed treats, like hot chocolate sachets, truffles, gingerbread cookies, and candy canes!

© Chalk Academy

Christmas tree. That holiday feeling cannot settle in before you see this essential centre piece enter the family room, standing tall and decorated in shiny, dainty little adornments. Decorating a Christmas tree with your family or anyone in your household is the best way to uplift the joys of the holidays and make everyone smile. Not only does it radiate a hopeful, calming sight when you turn on its lights at night, you shall also keep presents under its bark, so that on Christmas morning, the little ones would know where to gather and have fun with the gifts wrapped by family and friends, and perhaps Santa Claus?

That holiday feeling cannot settle in before you see this essential centre piece enter the family room, standing tall and decorated in shiny, dainty little adornments. Decorating a Christmas tree with your family or anyone in your household is the best way to uplift the joys of the holidays and make everyone smile. Not only does it radiate a hopeful, calming sight when you turn on its lights at night, you shall also keep presents under its bark, so that on Christmas morning, the little ones would know where to gather and have fun with the gifts wrapped by family and friends, and perhaps Santa Claus? Ornaments. Putting up ornaments around the house is arguably the most fun activity, whether it is carried out alone, or as a group. All you have to do is put on some Christmas music and an active spirit. Anyone can take part!

© Country Living

Presents. Gift-giving is such an important activity every year because the practice symbolizes the story of the Three Wise Men and the gifts they brought to infant Jesus. Presenting your loved ones with gifts is one of the simplest, most direct ways of expressing your love for them. To learn more, check out our 2020 Gift-Giving Guide!

During some down time…

With your occupational responsibilities for the year thinning down as we collectively agree that the holidays are reserved for quality time for family and yourself, we shall round up the year with some fun wellness activities. Here are some of my favorite holiday at-home traditions that I can guarantee would not fail to entertain you and the people you may get to spend this Christmas season with.

Bake some gingerbread cookies. A typical holiday evening does not get much more classic than this. No need to sweat it if your cookies turn out to be a little misshapen, just have fun with some icing and sprinkles and they’ll still taste great!

© Tesco Real Food

Clean up. Take this as a sign to clean, declutter, and reorganize your living space before you begin celebrating, for we all know that a neat and tidy house is the key to a happy and stress-free rest. You can learn more about this and the array of cleaning services MyKuya also offers in our Guide to a Clean and Happy House!

Take this as a sign to clean, declutter, and reorganize your living space before you begin celebrating, for we all know that a neat and tidy house is the key to a happy and stress-free rest. You can learn more about this and the array of cleaning services MyKuya also offers in our Guide to a Clean and Happy House! Wear ugly Christmas sweaters. Seriously, who doesn’t love these? Nowadays, you can easily get your hands on some funky sweaters at many big-box stores. Not only are they soft and cosy, they are also fun, unique, and make the perfect holiday attire. It is only socially acceptable to wear them freely during this time around, so I encourage you to not miss out on the opportunity. You can even start a festive sweater collection for your own enjoyment, because you can never have too many of ‘em.

Seriously, who doesn’t love these? Nowadays, you can easily get your hands on some funky sweaters at many big-box stores. Not only are they soft and cosy, they are also fun, unique, and make the perfect holiday attire. It is only socially acceptable to wear them freely during this time around, so I encourage you to not miss out on the opportunity. You can even start a festive sweater collection for your own enjoyment, because you can never have too many of ‘em. Have a Christmas movie marathon. There are just so many nostalgic, heartfelt movies to choose from, so why not try to watch as many as you can? I think it is safe to say that my all-time favorite would have to be the original Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.

© WFLA

Cross-stitch holiday-themed patterns . While you have Princess Switch playing in the background, you can relax and try stitching a little merry something you think you might want to frame and hang up in the room. After all, the only pieces of art better than the ones you purchase are the ones you create yourselves.

. While you have Princess Switch playing in the background, you can relax and try stitching a little merry something you think you might want to frame and hang up in the room. After all, the only pieces of art better than the ones you purchase are the ones you create yourselves. Try new desserts. The holidays could not be complete until you satisfy your sweet tooth. With the endless amount of festive desserts, I doubt that you’ve tried them all. You deserve to treat yourself with a tour around our lands from the stories told through different Filipino desserts. One thing we all have in common with our fellow brothers and sisters is our love for sweets!

Instagram @carluved__cupcakes

Keep in mind that during this time, we are encouraged to stay inside as much as we can, so we would like to introduce MyKuya’s pasabuy services: PaBili and Personal Shopper, features that allow you to request for a Kuya or Ate on demand to collect and check off the items on your Christmas must-haves list. Simply note down the above checklists and provide your brand/s of choice (if any) and other instructions or comments you want Kuya and Ate to consider while making your purchases at your nearest shopping areas, or those of your choice! Plus, you can track their journey from the moment you placed your order, to the moment they arrive at your doorstep through the MyKuya App. Download it here.

Remember the true meaning of Christmas

If you can think of a loved one who is not feeling great about spending their Christmas away from home, you can consider sending some of the things we listed above to encourage them to engage in some fun activities and try to make them feel better.

MyKuya has a Pickup & Drop service as well, which assists door-to-door, contactless deliveries for those of you who would like to share some of your Christmas fun with family and friends you wish to be with. You can send out Christmas letters, gifts, baked goods, or homemade dishes to add to their celebrations. Christmas is all about giving thanks and letting the people you care for dearly know they are loved.

Kuya and Ate are passionate about family and relationships, too, so trust that the purchases and deliveries to and from anywhere around the city will be done in good hands. Like real brothers and sisters, Kuya and Ate are happy to extend their support to you, whenever you need a helping hand.

Anything you need this holiday season is one click away. Have your arms open to those who may need virtual company, and stay connected to people you consider your safe haven. Let us build each other up, look after one another, and end the year strong. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us for help, stay safe, and have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Years’.