The Holiday season is officially here! Although this season will look very different this year, we can still find ways to create joy at home. It’s our responsibility to keep our communities safe and healthy by staying home, so why not make it enjoyable? Whether it’s by lighting candles and putting on a holiday playlist or making your favourite holiday drink, it really is the small things that can bring us relaxation and peace in times of change. Here’s my guide to embracing being at ‘home for the holidays’!
- Virtual Secret Santa
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Not able to reunite in person with your friends? Don’t be sad, have a virtual Secret Santa! Draw names, drop off or mail a small gift, and have a festive unwrapping on Zoom together! If you’re mailing your gift, it might be more cost effective to mail lightweight items like photographs, face masks (both the fabric and skincare kinds!), artwork, e-gift cards, origami, knitted/crocheted items, or stuffed animals.
- Travel Virtually for the Holidays!
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Some of us usually get to travel during the holiday season as a yearly tradition but can’t this year due to COVID-19. Fear not, we can still see what it’s like to celebrate the holidays in other parts of the world! Explore the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe from the comfort of your couch, like Berlin, Vienna or London. Go reindeer sledding in Sweden, watch the giant Christmas tree being lit up in front of Rockefeller Centre in NYC, and even explore The Red Square and nightlife in Moscow! Watching all these virtual tours made me feel like I was transported across the world, even just for a few minutes. Bon Voyage!
- Write Christmas Cards to Your Loved Ones
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Although we can’t see our extended family or friends in person this year, receiving a thoughtful Christmas card is sure to brighten up anybody’s holiday season. Buying Christmas cards can get expensive, but it doesn’t have to be! You can find affordable options at Dollarama or Indigo – or if you’re feeling artsy, make your own! You can also get holiday themed postage stamps at your local post office for the same price as regular stamps. Writing a card to those you love and miss is a small, meaningful way to show them you’re thinking about them.
- Skip Starbucks & Be Your Own Barista
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Starbucks can be crazy busy around the holidays. And while it is a nice treat, it can also get pretty pricey! Why not try and make a delicious holiday drink at home? All you need is water, a mug and some flavouring! Whether you’re making tea, coffee, hot chocolate or a turmeric latte, there are SO many ways to make it extra special. I myself am a tea person and enjoy a peppermint or rooibos tea with almond milk, maybe with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon on top if I’m feeling fancy. Get creative and don’t be afraid to try something new. To make you feel like a real barista, have this playing in the background while you brew your concoction!
- Cozy Up in a DIY “Book Nook”
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Two words: book nook. Get the cheesiest, most festive holiday novel you can find, cozy up in a little corner of your home, and read! We all own pillows and blankets, so why not compile them all into one massive pile of soft, luxurious bliss? If reading isn’t your thing, sift through a holiday cookbook or magazine to get ideas for your next creation.
- Candle-Lit Bath Time
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I’ve only ever had baths with the bathroom lights on, but changing the lighting was one of my life’s greatest epiphanies! Turning the lights off and lighting a few candles can make you feel like you’re at a Parisian spa, I promise you. Add some bubbles, Epsom salts, essential oils and some background instrumental music to get ready for some relaxing. Close your eyes and take this soaking time to meditate or let your imagination wander off to a snowy Icelandic hot spring oasis!
- Cookie Baking Championship
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I’m Austrian, so Christmas cookies are basically a food group of their own. My annual traditions are to bake vanillekipferl (vanilla crescent cookies), linzer plätzchen, and Kokosbusserl (“coconut kisses”).
I hope you enjoyed my guide to having a splendid Christmas, all from the comfort of your own home. May the holidays bring you the peace, rejuvenation, joy, and relaxation that you all deserve after a long and hard semester!