The holidays have always been a time for family and friends to gather together and spend quality time with one another. In the wake of the global pandemic that has characterized 2020 and made it stand apart in nearly every way from the preceding years, holiday festivities are gearing up to be more close-knit than usual. Families around the country and the world are making the difficult sacrifice of giving up larger social gatherings in favor of celebrations with immediate family members and living partners. Since the holiday season is going to be extra homey this year, it’s a great idea to add to your traditional repertoire of wintertime activities.
Baking
One of the best parts of the holiday season is gorging oneself on all of the delectable treats on offer during this time. Without access to the office or other venues where one might usually pick up such baked goods, it’s high time to jump on the baking train if you haven’t already. Even if you consider yourself a seasoned baker, there are always new heights you can reach.
Better yet, if you have pre-holiday work you’re tired of slogging through, you can use the impending holidays as an excuse to procrasti-bake. This is exactly what it sounds like: baking as a form of procrastination. If you need some recipe inspiration to get you started, then here are some ideas: peppermint patties, mince pies, panettone, yule logs, stollen, fudge and Christmas cookies.
Give the gift of wine
For a classy and mature gift that’s sure to go over well with sommeliers and casual drinkers alike, look no further than these wine gift baskets from Hickory Farms. You can send them directly to friends and family or hand them out in person at a socially distanced get-together. The recipients will be sure to appreciate the sophisticated, luxury wine selection found in these baskets. Wholesome homebound activities are great, but why not ensure that your holiday season has a touch of class?
Movie marathons
Whether it’s rewatching your favorite epically long series or finally trying out the film saga your friends have been telling you to watch for ages, this is the perfect time to plop down in front of the TV for a personal-record-breaking number of hours. If you’ve baked beforehand, this will make for an ideal setting in which to enjoy the fruits (or cakes) of your hard labor and to relax after some of the more taxing activities on the list.
If you’re not too tired of your go-to video chatting, you could even make this a Teleparty–formerly Netflix Party–event and invite those friends to watch alongside you.
Decorating
Of course, holiday decorating is an essential part of many families’ December routines, but why not take it to the next level this year? You don’t even have to go out and buy extra decorations to deck out your home with all the trappings of festive cheer. Instead, why not get creative with what you already have at home? In fact, that makes for a perfect segue to the next item on the list.
Crafting
Crafting isn’t always an activity typically associated with the holiday season, but winter–and this winter in particular–is a great time to kick your crafty side into gear. What’s more, you can craft with a purpose! Think about making homemade DIY decorations like Christmas ornaments, paper snowflakes, wreaths, mini houses and construction paper garland accents. If there are kids in your household, this is a great way to get them involved in the festive proceedings.
Maintanence and repairs
Sure, this might sound like the opposite of a heartwarming holiday endeavor, but it actually might be the perfect opportunity to check some household tasks off of your to-do list. Why not make it more fun by bringing in your friends or family members to help? Working on something together will turn an onerous task into a bonding experience. Y
With so many options, there’s bound to be at least one activity on this list that intrigues you. If you stay on the inspiration train, you’re sure to fight off the holiday blues in style and to make the 2020 holiday season one to remember for reasons other than the obvious.
