10 ways to recreate your favorite holiday traditions when they've been canceled

Amanda Tarlton, Reviewed
How to recreate your favorite holiday traditions when they've been canceled
How to recreate your favorite holiday traditions when they've been canceled

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From gift-giving to gingerbread house-making to annual end-of-year parties, the holidays are full of fun traditions. However, this year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many of those festivities have been canceled, unfortunately. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reminding people that celebrating virtually or with just the members of your household is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of creative ways to safely celebrate the season with your loved ones. Below, our experts at Reviewed have come up with 10 popular traditions that you can recreate in 2020 while following all safety and social distancing guidelines. Whether it's holding a virtual gift exchange or going to drive-thru Christmas light displays, these are sure to get you in the holiday spirit this year.

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1. Host a virtual Secret Santa

Send your Secret Santa gift a la snail mail.
Send your Secret Santa gift a la snail mail.

One of the most popular holiday gift-giving traditions is a Secret Santa exchange. Give it a 2020 twist by hosting it virtually this year. Our experts at Reviewed have compiled an easy-to-follow guide to having a virtual Secret Santa or White Elephant exchange along with some of the best gifts to buy no matter whose name you pull. Note: You'll want to get your exchange started ASAP to account for the shipping delays we've seen because of the pandemic.

2. Cook a holiday meal together

Bon appetit!
Bon appetit!

Just because you can't all sit down at the table together this year doesn't mean you can't enjoy a delicious holiday dinner with your loved ones virtually. While you can all eat together on Zoom, you can take things one step further by cooking the same meal simultaneously, too. Have everyone send out recipes for their favorite dish (like Mom's famous stuffing or Grandma's peppermint brownies) or order a meal kit delivery service like Home Chef, which provides fresh ingredients and beginner-friendly recipes that you can all follow along with.

3. Throw an at-home holiday party

May the best decorator win.
May the best decorator win.

You can still have your annual holiday party, but this year, it will be limited to the people you live with or those you can connect with virtually. Decorate the house, put on your best ugly Christmas sweater (or coziest holiday pajamas), blast some festive tunes, and maybe even have a gingerbread house-making competition using a kit like this one.

4. Unwrap presents over Zoom

Real-time present opening? Yes, please.
Real-time present opening? Yes, please.

Your loved ones might be miles away come Christmas morning but you can all still share in the excitement by opening presents together. Set up a Zoom "meeting" and have everyone unwrap their presents live so Grandma can see just how excited you are for her gift. Psst: This highly-rated tripod for your phone will make it easier to set up and capture the entire room hands-free.

5. Binge-watch holiday movies

Queue up all your favorite films.
Queue up all your favorite films.

There's no shortage of great holiday flicks out there, from the classics (It's A Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, for starters) to the cartoons (Rudolph, anyone?). Cozy up in your favorite holiday pajamas, grab some popcorn and have a Christmas movie marathon with your family. If you want to watch with long-distance friends and family, you can use the Teleparty plug-in for Netflix or the "watch party" feature that some services like Hulu and Disney+ offer. Psst: A good streaming device like our favorite Roku Ultra will make your movie night infinitely better.

6. Go on a drive-thru light tour

One of the best ways to get in the holiday spirit is by hunting down the best Christmas light displays in your area. While you should avoid crowds (i.e. the zoo's annual light show probably isn't an option this year), many neighborhoods and residential areas have started "drive-thru" Christmas light displays. Pour a few travel mugs of hot cocoa, pile into the car and go search for the best and brightest lights you can find.

7. Host an outdoor hot chocolate party

Warm up with a mug of something sweet.
Warm up with a mug of something sweet.

If you want to celebrate the season with your neighbors, do so safely with an outdoor hot chocolate party. Set up chairs a socially-distant six feet apart, and have everyone bring mugs of hot cocoa and maybe a few homemade treats. You can sing Christmas songs, exchange gifts, or simply enjoy each other's company. Bonus points if there's a fire pit involved. Just make sure you bundle up (we recommend having one of these outdoor blankets!).

8. Mail homemade treats to your loved ones

Crinkle cookies, chocolate-covered pretzels, peanut butter blossoms, oh my!
Crinkle cookies, chocolate-covered pretzels, peanut butter blossoms, oh my!

What are the holidays without dozens of delicious, fresh-baked cookies? This year, if you can't deliver your homemade goodies to your friends and family in person, spend an afternoon baking to your heart's desire at home and then mail all of your sugary sweet treats to make your loved ones a little happier (and a lot more satisfied!) this season. Need some good baking gear? Our experts recommend this baking sheet for perfectly-browned cookies or this Rachael Ray loaf pan for all of your bread-making needs.

9. Donate to a charity

Give back to those less fortunate.
Give back to those less fortunate.

'Tis the season of giving—and of giving back. If you're unable to volunteer in person this year, you can still help out your community or cause of your choice with a donation. You can donate money directly to a charity or nonprofit or check with your local food pantry, for instance, to see if they're accepting canned food donations. Another nice idea? Writing greeting cards or delivering baked goodies to the elderly at a senior home.

10. Watch a virtual Christmas parade

Parades will be going virtual this year.
Parades will be going virtual this year.

Unfortunately, most in-person holiday festivals and parades have been canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. However, some cities and organizations are still holding these events virtually instead. Research what Christmas parades or festivities are being hosted online in your area, then gather everyone in your household to watch together.

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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: 10 ways to recreate your favorite holiday traditions amid the pandemic

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