Celebrating Festivals And Occasions During The Pandemic
2020 has been like no other year, it has been full of the unexpected and things have happened that no one would have ever expected. England are now in their second lockdown of the year and the rules and regulations across England, Scotland and Wales differ so much it’s making everything that little bit trickier.
However, no matter what the COVID-19 pandemic throws at us people still celebrate. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, religious celebrations and even right down to friendships and milestones throughout the pandemic. It’s easy to downplay the importance of a special event in such extra ordinary circumstances, but it’s important that we aren’t left feeling like our lives have been put on hold again. What’s more, a good party or focusing on a celebration can provide a few hours of light relief during a pretty stressful time for us all.
Even the preparation and the process of discovering something new (e.g. zoom parties) can provide that much needed break and can be a lot of fun. For some it can be a daunting experience the thought of having to plan the unknown, for the unknown, using the unknown. But, with some creative thinking and some technological solutions, you can ensure those special days are still marked in style.
Not only are families struggling with challenging times financially and physically, companies are trying their best to boost staff morale for home workers who may be feeling isolated. With more uncertain times ahead and not knowing when and how we will be allowed to celebrate in person, it can be helpful to plan and organise as much as you can.
For many of us, this time of year is a time for finding joy in the planning and celebrating of various festivals and celebrations that bring families and friends together over the winter months. We need to consider that this year we may still be required to follow the Rule of Six – or even be in lockdown – so it’s more important than ever to prepare for all eventualities. Make a list of three different scenarios and plan accordingly for each one.
For some of us, the formal parts of religious festivals may change – with Places of Worship operating to different rules. For others, the informal gatherings and family traditions that accompany times of celebration may be affected. Most of the religious festivals at this time of year celebrate prosperity, hope and light – and it is important that we hold onto the meaning of these celebrations all the more if we cannot mark them in the way we might have in the past.
Coping with the disappointment that you may not be able to mark an occasion in the usual way, particularly events which have special meaning, can be challenging. You may feel a range of emotions similar to grief and sadness, which is completely understandable. Accepting the reality of our situation without holding on to the hope that maybe things will return to ‘normal’ in time, can help. If you can reduce the gap between your expectations of the ‘perfect holiday’ and the reality of what’s possible, you can plan how to balance safety and celebration.
We will have to be more creative in how we join in the festivities but, in years to come, talking about how we celebrated in 2020 may well become one of our most cherished memories – precisely because we were asked to strip back and focus on the meaning.
Try and enjoy the festivities as much as you can. While it’s natural to want to be with your loved ones in person, ensuring they are as protected as possible from coronavirus may be the greatest gift you can give this year!
Here are some simple and practical tips to help you plan and enjoy any celebration, use as many or as few as you find useful –
- Shop online in plenty of time
- Organise a virtual party – entertainment hire (budget depending)
- Produce a very special video for family and friends
- Throw a gaming party
- Send cards through online delivery services or make your own as early as possible (remember, to send in plenty of time as services will be busy! Especially if it needs to go abroad). The final posting dates for delivery from the Royal Mail can be found here (both UK and International postage): https://www.royalmail.com/christmas/last-posting-dates
- Order a special takeaway
- Attend an interactive work shop
- Use a cook-along service
- Share ideas or join groups with similar interests online
- Join a religious ceremony/worship group online
- Plan another celebration for when this is all over
Below are some considerations to focus on so that we are still able to celebrate should restrictions still be in place –
- Focus on kindness – try to divert your attention away from what you can’t have and instead focus on what kind things you can do for others and for yourself.
- Be there for each other – try to have conversations with family and friends about how you’re feeling, listen to how others are coping and act with empathy and understanding.
- Take time to be grateful – appreciate the joyful little moments. Reflecting on all you have to be grateful for can really lift your mood.
- Gift giving – if you feel the need to buy more gifts than usual – perhaps to compensate for celebrations being different this year – remember that this is a normal feeling, but not something you need to do. We’re all in this together and you and your gifts are enough. You don’t need to compensate for things beyond your control. If money is tight this year, remember not to stretch beyond your means and consider doing something creative or thoughtful rather than spending more money.
- Be aware of overindulging – regardless of whether we can have large celebrations or not, it’s important to keep an eye on what you’re drinking, eating and spending. Some people may turn to alcohol, food, shopping and illegal drugs to help cope with stress.
- Celebrating with children – why not start a ‘living history’ scrapbooking project to commemorate how you celebrated in 2020? Explain that in years to come this will be an important document of how we lived. Similarly, older children and adults may want to journal their thoughts and feelings at this time. Additionally, this may be a time your children usually get together with cousins or their friends. You could try to keep them connected through video calls, so they feel included.
- Maintain traditions – you could try to stick to the traditions that you have in place. Whether it’s making a particular meal, or decorating your home on a certain day, by maintaining these traditions you can create a sense of normality.
- Stick to the rules – if you’re feeling under pressure from friends or family to break the rules, remember why restrictions may be in place. It is for the safety of everyone, including ourselves, to stick to government guidelines. By following the rules, we all contribute to a healthier society.
It is important to highlight that other pressures such as concerns about job and financial security, worries about the health of family and friends, or feeling low because you can’t be physically near people who are important to you, can often be heightened during the festive season. Similarly, if you are dealing with grief or bereavement, celebrations can be particularly challenging.
It’s good to keep in mind that while preparing a celebration can be a happy and exciting time for many, some people can feel under a lot of pressure to create the perfect experience for their loved ones. This can cause increased stress, anxiety and feelings of inadequacy which may be heightened this year with the additional barriers in place. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the extra demands of the season, try to balance your sense of obligation against your need for self-care.
Going for a walk, doing something you enjoy or mindfulness techniques like yoga, meditation or breathing exercises can help.
If you are feeling down, talking to people can lighten your load. Likewise, if you notice that someone you care about is showing signs of distress, ask them how they are feeling and what they need. If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.
Some of the information sourced for this article was originally published by the Mental Health Foundation. If you would like to access this and further information in more detail please follow the link below – https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus/celebrating-festivals-and-occasions-during-lockdown
If you would like to hear more in depth advice or have any top tips you would like to share please join us for our webinar on Tuesday 24th November at 12pm
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