Plenty of people are opting to stay home for Christmas this year instead of traveling to see extended family.
Holiday travel across the U.S. is expected to drop as much as 30% in 2020 because of COVID-19. While some families are simply exercising precaution, others are forced to quarantine over the holidays due to exposure or sickness.
Stuck at home, fewer things to do, no traveling—does this mean Christmas is doomed to be boring?
Absolutely not!
Our team strongly believes in having fun, especially during the holidays. So we’ve whipped up a list of creative quarantine Christmas traditions you can do at home with your loved ones.
These are sure to be a treat for the whole family, so enjoy!
1. Do a Christmas scavenger hunt.
This can be a ton of fun for the kids—no matter how old they are. Mom and Dad just need to set up the clues around the house to lead the kids to the ultimate find, whether it’s a prize gift, a present for the whole family, or something else.
Feel free to use inside jokes or Christmas movie references in your clues or point the treasure-seekers to areas in the home they haven’t explored in years. With a little creativity, you can make this game a total blast!
2. Cozy up around the fireplace and make s’mores.
You might think San Diego has been a little too warm to light the fireplace—and maybe you’re right. But if you can handle the heat, gathering around the fireplace as a family and toasting marshmallows can be a special moment. You never know what funny or deep conversations will spring up or what memories you’ll make together.
Plus… all you need is graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. How simple can family time be?
3. Have a Christmas movie night.
I’m not talking about any normal movie night. No, no, no… I mean get out the pillows and blankets, break out the popcorn and nachos, throw on some pajamas, and make a full night of it!
Maybe even make fake tickets for your kids to make it feel more like you’re going to the movie theater. After a few days or weeks in quarantine, the extra work to make the night feel special can go a long way.
4. Go camping … in your backyard!
Don’t let quarantine stop you from having the full camping experience. Set up a tent, lay out the sleeping bags, and pack some snacks. If you have a fire pit to cook hot dogs, even better!
The kids will love this backyard campout—and Mom will love that she can use the restroom in the house instead of in the woods.
5. Make Christmas ornaments featuring what you’re grateful for.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, so it’s crucial that we work to focus on what this special holiday is really about.
Making Christmas ornaments might seem like a small way to do that, but don’t underestimate the power of focusing on what you’re grateful for.
You can create your ornaments out of foam shapes, popsicle sticks, and glue. Or you can go all out and paint words on glass shapes. It’s up to you! (Maybe glass isn’t a great idea if you have toddlers.)
6. Re-enact the Christmas story, using the entire house as Bethlehem.
Speaking of what Christmas is really about, re-enacting the Christmas story is a fun way to remember that sacred night 2,000 years ago.
Put a spin on the family drama by having it take place in modern times! Can you imagine Mary and Joseph trying to get an Uber to Bethlehem? Or going to every hotel only to find out they’re fully booked? What about settling for a horse stable or a park pavilion as a place to have their baby? Get creative and watch the whole family engage.
7. Pray for a different need each day of the week as a family.
As difficult as 2020 may have been for you and me, there are others who have suffered much more. Let’s not forget those in need this Christmas. Gather as a family each morning or evening to pray over various needs you’re aware of.
Poverty, human trafficking, orphans—there are many needs to pray for. If you can, donate toward some organizations that are fighting these issues. Just because you can’t volunteer in person this year due to quarantine doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference.
8. Create Christmas cards for family members you can’t visit this year.
Quarantined family members—especially grandparents—are missing their families the most this year. Make them feel loved this Christmas with some handmade holiday cards. I guarantee the next time you visit, those cards will be up on their refrigerator.
9. Make a gingerbread house that looks like your home.
If making a regular square gingerbread house isn’t hard enough for you, then go the extra mile and fashion a gingerbread house that looks like your own home. Top it off with gingerbread people to represent each member of your family. (And don’t forget the pets!)
Merry Christmas From the Jessica Foote Team
Our team cares about you more than we care about selling houses! We pray that this Christmas, you and your loved are safe, healthy, and abundantly blessed.
Merry Christmas!
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash