Christmas is a wonderful time, especially in the Polish tradition. This is the time when we are together, sharing love, goodies and warmth. Many people cannot imagine being away from their families at this time, however, the pandemic will keep us apart. But don’t be sad about it. Consider this unusual Christmas time as a chance to create new traditions.
Christmas vs coronavirus
For many people, this year’s Christmas will be completely different from the previous ones. Many Christmas plans, traditions and customs have to be verified. First of all, in most Polish homes Christmas Eve will not be as numerous as before. Often families have celebrated this special Christmas dinner with many people. This year the number should be significantly reduced, which is what the government has been calling for since mid-November. According to the plan of “100 days of Solidarity”, you will be able to receive only 5 guests on Christmas. This means a significant reduction of large, traditional family celebrations. Government, doctors and epidemiologists also urge to limit travelling during the Christmas season. We are encouraged to spend the holidays only with our closest family, the people we live with, and to refrain from travelling from one end of Poland to another. For many, those recommendations are very difficult to accept, especially for those who live far from their family homes. At the same time, most of the citizens are aware that the pandemic situation in the upcoming year depends on how we behave during Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Traditions in a new form
There is no doubt that the celebration of Christmas in churches all over Poland will be different. Of course, the traditional midnight Mass will take place, but only a few will be able to attend in person. However, if you want to participate, you can watch the broadcast on the internet. More and more churches give this opportunity now. The same thing with carolling, visiting the nativity scenes in churches and Christmas fairs – many events we traditionally attended during Christmas can be now visited online. You can also be creative and arrange little carolling with your loved ones at home. You can prepare a Christmas songbook for each household member and organizing a small contest. If you have kids, you may encourage them to create their own nativity scene instead of visiting one. If it comes to spending time with those who you’re not able to see in person on Christmas you should not forget about the wonderful opportunities that are brought to us by phones and the internet! As this year almost every event and meeting you attended was conducted online, why not arrange an online Christmas celebration with your loved ones? Who said Christmas Eve can’t be online? You don’t have to give up traditions that you love so much, for some of them, you just have to find a slightly safer form.
Take on the challenge - create the magic of Christmas
Christmas within a small household group, no visits to family and friends, no visits to churches, the nativity scene, no concerts of carols – it does not mean that Christmas has to be spent in front of TV this year. Of course, you can watch “Home Alone” or “Love Actually” with the unforgettable Hugh Grant. However, it’s worth trying something new! Play board games, scrabbles or puzzles, or maybe you’ll start Christmas karaoke with carols? Or a contest for the prettiest decorated gingerbread cookie? There are many ways to spend enjoyable Christmas in a small group. If you feel like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket, hugging the person you love the most and reading books with hot tea in your hand, nothing should stand on your way. You can also choose to be active – starting with morning jogging or a walk to the nearby park or forest together with your family. If you happen to walk near the city centre you can admire the Christmas decorations, while enjoying a cup of aromatic take away coffee.
Anything good?
Christmas in the times of pandemic has a positive side. Restrictions of travelling, limits in shopping malls, family meetings only in the close circle – all this makes us slow down a little bit. We stopped rushing in search of the perfect gift for all the cousins, we tend to worry a little less about the Christmas menu, and gave up obsessive cleaning up of the whole house. The coronavirus pandemic managed to achieve something many of us haven’t been able to do on our own – it pulled us out of the holiday preparation chaos that absorbs us every year and makes us forget what Christmas is all about. We can focus on the most important – spending peaceful time with family and friends.
Instead of wondering what we have lost this passing year, it is better to appreciate what we gained. Quit thinking about Christmas Eve you cannot have this year, and focus on making the one you can have special. Consider ordering Christmas dinner from a local restaurant instead of spending the whole day in the kitchen. That way you gain more time and the local entrepreneur who runs it may survive the crisis. Instead of buying thousands of gifts in the big shopping mall, focus on choosing a few unique ones from small manufactures, boutiques and family stores that are fighting to survive now (for inspiration on last-minute gifts read our previous article on Christmas shopping). And finally, instead of spending the whole Christmas driving from one aunt to another, focus on the closest family members. You meet them every day but hardly ever have a few minutes to spend together. Now it’s the perfect time to catch up.
Christmas in the pandemic era requires many changes in our traditions – those regional, and those that we cultivate in our families. However, because this Christmas season will be different we can spend it mindfully. Instead of thinking about how many things the pandemic has taken away from us, we can appreciate the ones that we have noticed thanks to it – like the value of peaceful time with the people we loved. This year, we have a chance to find our own way of spending Christmas and experience it as our hearts tell us.