Holidays of 2020
By: Hiking_Farmers _Wife
Tags: Family, Christmas, Covid-19, New Traditions

Holidays of 2020

This year has been one heck of a year. Who would have guessed that it would have been the way it’s been on Years Eve last year. But this year has been hard for all of us. Some harder then others. With passing of family members, not being able to get home due to restrictions, and etc.

This year, Like a lot of people, I didn’t get to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family the traditional way due to COVID. Thanksgiving didn’t bother me to horribly this year. It isn’t the first year that I wouldn’t be home for Thanksgiving. When I lived on my own and lived almost two hours away it got to be where I decided that if I had to choose a holiday to come home for because it got to where I could not afford to make trips home for both holiday’s, then I would go with Christmas.

But, Traditionally every year my moms side of the family gets together on Christmas Eve to swap presents, but due to COVID and four family members having high risk health issues my grandmother who hosts Christmas Eve canceled the event. Never once has this happened the whole 32 years I’ve been alive. So needless to say, Christmas Eve was very weird for me and I felt very out of place. But, I know that I was not alone this year.

I believe that this year is and was a great time to invent your own new traditions. My husband and I did just that. My church has two days worth of Christmas Eve celebration. So, my husband, mother-n-law and I went to the December 23rd 5:o0 o’clock service, went to see Christmas lights, and then went to get Chinese food. My husbands favorite Christmas movie is “A Christmas Story” and wanted Chinese for Christmas like they have for Christmas Day in the movie. On Christmas Eve, we went shopping for two last minute gifts and a couple stocking stuffers and then went to eat Mexican food (My favorite) where we ran into our neighbor and his family. My husband and I also love the Madagascar movies, so watching Madagascar Christmas is and was a much watch for us.

So, Christmas Day was even weirder after not having spent any time with my family the prior night. We spent the day with my husbands family but not all day. Only the afternoon. We ate lunch, played the white elephant game, then scattergories, followed by trivia. His family is a major game playing family. Which is something that I truly love. But we did drop presents off at family members houses (doorsteps).

But, I have to say that this year has been an eye opener for me. Like many who have lost loved ones in prior years and realize that they have taken things for granted and cling to the memories. I on the other hand have always been the one who realizes that I’ve been taking things for granted, keep ahold of that for a couple years or so and then go right back to taking things for granted. So, this year has been another eye opener that I hope that will stick with me for a long time. If not forever. The mere fact that I was not able to spend it with my grandmother was hard, but the fact that I was able to escape any possible drama stress that usually may follow in family get togethers this year was nice.

I like many are hoping that next year (2021) that things will start to become more normal. That the COVID with loosen its grips and people with be able to be with family more. So, to those who normally struggle with the holidays with depression, not getting to see your family or are experiencing that this year and feel alone, know that you are not alone. So many of us are going through that this year. Look at how many countries are even placing harsher lock downs to prevent the newest COVID strand from spreading.

I pray and hope that everyone remembers that we are all in this together and were able to celebrate in their own way. Making new traditions. I hope that you were able Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, Facebook video chat, or any other video chat with loved ones. Or even make a phone call with loved ones. So, please keep your chin up.

I Wish Everyone A Merry Christmas.