Turkey Dinner on the Lawn? Creative Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in 2020

For many Americans, family gatherings are a holiday tradition. During uncertain times such as these, getting together can provide a significant boost to psychological and social well-being. With some mindfulness and creativity, you can look forward to celebrating the holidays this year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll need to contemplate who will be attending (number of people, ages, where they live, physical distancing), where the event will occur and what it will entail.   

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not set a limit on the number of attendees at events, Floridians are encouraged to avoid gathering in groups larger than 10, according to the Florida Department of Health. Larger gatherings — especially those held indoors and poorly ventilated — increase your risk of exposure. It’s important to keep this in mind, especially if attendees will be traveling by planes, trains and buses. This year consider taking a road trip to participate in the holidays, as you can limit your exposure that way.

But keep in mind that travel increases your chance of getting and spreading the virus causing COVID-19. If you can, stay home this year as a way of protecting yourself and others. If you must travel, be informed of the risks involved.

Tips for Celebrating in 2020

This year you really want to avoid direct contact with other people’s respiratory secretions (such as coughs and sneezes) and indirect contact (they wipe their nose, touch the counter, then you touch the counter). How should you go about planning meals and visits? 

Lower-Risk Activities: 

• Plan ahead for shopping trips and go several days before the holiday to avoid the crowds. You don’t want to be jammed in the grocery aisles on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, for instance. 

• Zoom/Skype with relatives and friends by adding a laptop or tablet with a webcam at the end of your table. You can eat together via webcam or wait until dessert or after the meal to virtually exchange greetings and family stories among households. And if you have elderly family members present, waiting until noise dies down may be better for them to hear and participate in the webcam call. 

• If shopping on Black Friday is a family tradition, consider shopping online instead or choose an alternate day to holiday shop in person, during off-hours.  

• Watch sports events, parades and movies on TV, rather than attending in-person. Add a little fun with holiday movie bingo cards. 

Moderate-Risk Activities: 

• Consider having your holiday dinner outdoors with friends and family who live in your community. We know COVID-19 spreads more easily in confined areas, so while the weather is nice, take advantage of it! Have some fun changing up your traditions by throwing an outdoor turkey barbecue, Christmas-in-July style. 

• Play games such as guessing the number of ornaments on the tree, charades, trivia or Pictionary with a holiday theme (Christmas carols, Thanksgiving dinner items, eight nights of Hanukkah). 

• Weather permitting, set up lawn games such as horseshoes, badminton, croquet or cornhole. 

• Walk, bike or skateboard around the neighborhood to check out the holiday decorations (and burn off that turkey dinner).

• At night, gather outside around a firepit or bonfire — musically inclined guests might bring instruments to play. 

Once you get your imagination going, you’ll find plenty of creative ways to gather and bond with friends and family while keeping physical spacing in mind — especially when you can make the most of a mild outdoor climate.

What Activities Are Higher Risk During A Viral Outbreak? 

You increase your chance of exposure this holiday season if you do any of the following, according to the CDC: 

• Attend large indoor gatherings or parties

• Participate or attend crowded parades or races

• Drink or use drugs, which increases risky behaviors and poor decision-making

• Shop at crowded times

Keep a Well-Stocked Medicine Cabinet

Even though COVID-19 has momentarily taken center stage, remember that ordinary colds and flu bugs still will be circulating. If someone gets sick during the holidays, you’re not going to want to run out at 2:00 am for over-the-counter medications. Make sure you have a week’s supply of medications on hand. 

Further helpful tips for managing cold and flu symptoms in kids are available from the American Academy of Pediatrics.