How to Celebrate Thanksgiving During the Pandemic
The vast majority of us greatly look forward to the holiday season, however, Thanksgiving 2020 will be a unique and different experience for everyone.
Despite this, it’s still the ideal time to be thankful and restful. This year’s challenges and difficulties mean that we all need a break to refuel and reflect on what we have to be grateful for; even if this means doing so in a way that's different from usual.
Having a simple meal with just your immediate family, a relaxed walk, or a video call with extended family members you haven’t seen in a while, will allow you to take a step back and recharge from this unusual and often difficult year.
Along with being limited with what you can do to celebrate due to closures and other Covid-related restrictions, you need to keep the safety of those involved in your celebrations and of your community in mind when planning this Thanksgiving.
In this blog, we offer some tips for celebrating Thanksgiving during the pandemic to help you enjoy the holidays while staying safe and mitigating risk.
Top Tips for Celebrating Thanksgiving During the Pandemic
Host a Virtual Dinner
The CDC advises that the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to do so just with your household instead of meeting up with multiple households as many usually would.
If you decide to take that route, it doesn’t mean that you can’t celebrate with others virtually. The pandemic has seen a sharp rise in the use of video chat for work and social activities, and this will include its use for Thanksgiving celebrations this year.
You could do this by setting up a video call with friends and family as you all enjoy your Thanksgiving meal. Planning a schedule in advance can help to ensure that everyone is ready to eat and participate in the call at approximately the same time.
Alternatively, you could set up calls for before or after your meal to enjoy drinks and a chat or to play games. You could even call friends or relatives as you all cook to get the feel of everyone preparing the meal together as is the norm for many at the holidays.
The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is with your household only, celebrating virtually with all others.
Scale-Back Your Guest List
If you’re set on having a joint celebration with those outside of your household, consider scaling back your usual guest list for safety.
While recommendations can vary, aim for just four or five outside guests at most, ideally from just one or two other households. Try to also only invite guests that are not high-risk. High-risk individuals include the elderly and those with health issues.
Remember that your household includes only those that have permanently been living in your house. So older children at college, for example, that want to come home for Thanksgiving shouldn’t be counted as part of your household.
Ideas for Multi-Household Get-Togethers
While it’s highly recommended to celebrate with just your household this year, if you are mixing with others, there are some things to keep in mind to ensure everyone has a safe Thanksgiving.
Firstly, ensure everyone wears a mask except when eating and drinking. Also, keep a good amount of distance (at least six feet) between yourself and those from other households.
For your meal, try to avoid potluck and sharing style dishes which are traditional of the holiday. Instead, either have each household bring and serve their own food or designate one person to dish up while wearing a mask. Ensure this person also wears gloves or sanitizes their hands thoroughly before serving. The same goes for serving beverages.
Households with Children
Do be cautious when mixing households with young children. It can be difficult for them to understand that they need to keep their mask on at all times, not have close contact with others, and not touch things that others may also touch.
If there are children involved in your celebrations, make sure they understand the rules they need to follow clearly and keep a close eye on them.
College Students
Those returning home from college for Thanksgiving will count as another “household” so should be treated as such. Those that do decide to come home should be wary of potential symptoms and try to wear a mask, sanitize hands before touching things, and keep a distance from others in the household.
Many college students will also have to travel, possibly via shared transport like plane, bus, or train. This in itself is a risk so if you do have to travel and can’t drive, consider staying where you are this year. There is also a risk when students return to campus of spreading the virus which they may have caught during their trip.
Students should strongly consider staying in the city they study in and celebrate with those in your household such as roommates or others in your dorm or with other friends that make up a bubble that you interact with frequently.
If mixing with others, wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines.
Celebrate Outside
For those who are meeting with other households, consider moving your celebration outdoors. If you live in a warmer area of the country, this should be quite an easy change and may even result in you hosting Thanksgiving outdoors once the pandemic is over too.
Those in colder areas, you could invest in outdoor heaters or fire pits in order to comfortably dine outdoors. Alternatively, enjoy your meal with just your household and meet up with friends or family outdoors before or after eating for a walk, games, or to just hang out.
Remember that being outside doesn’t mean you can disregard other safety guidelines. Wear a mask and keep a good distance from those not in your household.
Send Food or Care Packages to Normal Guests Instead of Meeting Up
If those you usually meet with around Thanksgiving are local to you, a great idea is to drop off care packages, food, or other gifts. This is especially important if you have elderly relatives nearby as they may not be able to go out to the store to purchase Thanksgiving ingredients.
If you bake around the holidays, whether that be pies, cookies, or other baked goods, double or triple your recipe and drop the extra off with friends or neighbors.
You could also arrange an exchange with friends and family in your area. For example, each household could drop off a dish at the homes of those involved so that all households can enjoy a potluck dinner without the risk of having to meet up in person.
Participate in Other Acts of Kindness
Along with giving gifts to those in your social and familial circles, this year is the perfect time to give back to others in your community. This could be just one act of kindness to a neighbor, total stranger, or even an animal in need.
For example, check in with elderly neighbors (or others that you know are having to self-isolate) to see if they need help with anything such as having groceries collected for them or leaves raked in their yard.
Or, you could donate to a local shelter or charity or volunteer some of your time if they’re accepting new volunteers. Now is also the perfect time to buy some extra food and drop it off at a local food bank.
Even just sitting out on your front stoop with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and waving to neighbors who pass by can be a great way to bring some warmth and holiday spirit into your community.
If you bake around the holidays, double your recipe and drop the extra off with friends or neighbors.
Decorate!
A side effect of not celebrating Thanksgiving in the way you’re used to can be that you don’t get into the holiday spirit. If that’s a concern and/or you’re celebrating Thanksgiving in your own home for the first time, decorating is a great way to make the most of the situation and get into the holiday spirit.
This could simply be hanging a wreath or lighting holiday scented candles. If you want to add to that, you don’t have to break the bank. Many grocery stores, dollar stores, and retail stores like Target sell cute Thanksgiving decorations at affordable prices.
Check out local independent stores too or craft sites like Etsy to help small and local businesses. You could even craft some decorations yourself; an especially fun idea if you have kids!
Make New Traditions
While you may be yearning for your normal Thanksgiving traditions, this year is the perfect time to create new traditions.
Adjustments you have to make due to the pandemic, such as hosting outdoors or doing a food exchange, could become a new cherished tradition that you carry on even after life returns to normal.
We hope that these ideas help you to stay safe and have a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving despite the pandemic’s effect on how we celebrate.
Thanksgiving Wishes from the Lynne Palmer Team
In the spirit of the holiday, here is what our team is thankful for this year despite the changes and difficulties we’ve all experienced.
Susan Gordon, President
“I'm thankful for being able to be with my family and having the support of wonderful friends, even though we are not together. As we reflect on the last year, our team and relationships in the industry are such a blessing.
Wishing you a healthy holiday as we reflect on what is most important.”
Jackie Riley, Executive Vice President
”Thankful for the health of friends and family. Thankful and fortunate to love my work and the client and candidate relationships. We truly are all in this together!!”
Kathy Dellamonica, Office Manager
”I am thankful that myself, my family, and friends were able to sustain our health during this terrible time.”
Kyle Moffatt, Research Associate
”Thankful for my family and friends. Hoping 2021 will be as great as 2020 was not!”
Kieran Walsh, Research Associate
”I’m thankful for my family, friends, and my piano - It’s important to have hobbies during a lockdown.”
Disclaimer: Be sure to take note of the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines and always check local and state rules and guidance before committing to plans this Thanksgiving.