This winter break is definitely different than past years. Everyone is coming home from school and wants to see their friends, but with COVID cases spiking for the third time, it is important to stay safe. Though the weather is getting cold, and you may not be able to hang out outside, there are still a lot of fun things your friend group can do safely. Here are a few ideas of safe things to do with your friends this winter!
- Secret Santa
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A great alternative to having a Christmas party with your friends is organizing a secret Santa gift exchange. With all of the restrictions on indoor gatherings, my friends and I decided it would be safest to not get together all in person. We organized a zoom call where we all drew names and figured out a price. All of us are going to drop off the gifts on each other’s porches and open them on a zoom together. Though it isn’t the same as our normal Christmas party, it is a much safer option that is still a ton of fun!
- Themed Group Snapchat Stories
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My friends and I love making group stories on Snapchat. It is super fun to make different themed groups like Christmas, shopping hauls, and baking. It is a great way to keep in touch about the little things that you may not think to share with each other, like what you bought at Target.
- Rent out a Movie Theater
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One unique activity that you can do this winter break is rent out a movie theater with a bunch of your friends. Due to the pandemic, many theaters have super cheap prices for reserving an entire theater. It is super easy for everyone to stay spread out, and you don’t even have to worry about being around strangers inside for a long period of time. This would be a great option if you want to celebrate a birthday without having an unsafe party. The availability of this may depend on your state/local COVID guidelines, but if it is available in your area it is definitely worth checking out!
- Recipe Swaps
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Every family has their own unique traditions for the holidays, many of which include food. Something super fun you can do with your friends is exchange recipes and try to make them. Many of us have been baking for all of quarantine and are sick of the same banana bread we have been making for months. This is a great opportunity to try something new while also learning more about your friends’ cultures.
Though it is difficult to leave behind certain traditions you may have with your friend group, safety is more important. I know my friends, and I would all love to have our normal Christmas party that we have every year, but we have to compromise. While we are all on break for the next two months we still have many opportunities to have fun with our friends. Though the situation is not ideal, we can all make the best of it and have a fun, safe winter break!