Celebrating the holidays with friends and family has always been the norm. Extended family comes over and brings food to have a massive dinner. Groups of friends hang out around the city and eat together. However, the pandemic has put a halt on large festivities. With this ongoing pandemic, here are some ways that we can all still celebrate the holidays with COVID-19 guidelines.

Option one: Host a Zoom call. I know that the last thing any student wants to do over the break is to open the Zoom website. However, you can call up your friends and have a party over Zoom. Dress up as different characters or do a Kahoot!

Option two: Send letters. It is a little cheesy, but imagine how much your extended family would appreciate a handwritten letter from you! A simple “Hey! We miss you!” will surely brighten up their holidays. 

Option three: Mail each other gifts. My friends and I have been doing this since we all met each other. Every Christmas break we would mail each other the randomest things and call it a “gift.” For example, I always come to school unprepared, so my friends mailed me a box of pencils once. 

Option four: Make your friends some jewelry. Jewelry is a big trend these days. From rings to matching Lego heart necklaces, you can go to a craft store and make a ring quite easily. This way, your friends will also have something to remind them of you. 

These are just some ways that we can stay connected during these hard times. Don’t let this pandemic ruin the holiday spirit and instead, find new ways to celebrate!