Plenty of us are more than ready to say goodbye to 2020. But with the pandemic still in play, and spiking in some places, what’s the best way to do so safely? The typical New Year’s Eve party — inside, with cocktails, finger food, and lots of kisses at midnight — is a superspreader event waiting to happen. And most big New Year’s Eve events are being cancelled, anyway. So you just have to get a little creative.
Ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve with kids
Ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve with family or friends
Social distancing is still the keyword this holiday season. With surging virus numbers being attributed in part to small gatherings, the CDC is recommending that you celebrate only with those in your household.
That said, some people have figured out ways to be with their people. There are safe ways to see friends during a pandemic — although the dead of winter makes it a bit harder than it was when the sun was out.
7. The "quaranteam" vacation
Some families — with a few, trusted members — get tested, or travel, test and quarantine for a short period, in order to spend more extended time together, sans masks. This may be tricky, and will require a lot of important discussions beforehand. “Friends should certainly have discussions from the get-go about boundaries, priorities and the issues that could arise,” psychologist and friendship expert Marisa G. Franco told the New York Times. “It may feel awkward, but it will feel way more awkward if your friend shows up and she’s not wearing a mask.”
8. The extended getaway
Even safer, a small family vacation might be exactly what 2020 ordered. Just hurry, options are going fast.
"Even though people are feeling more comfortable traveling, we’re still in the midst of a pandemic, so it’s important to plan ahead and book early—especially with the current popularity of vacation rentals,” Josh Viner, travel expert for Vacasa, told Mom.com. “Over the summer, we saw travelers opt for remote destinations that were conducive to road tripping and social distancing, and it’s trending that way for fall and winter, too. Compared to this same time last year, searches for cabins have more than doubled.”
9. A virtual gathering
There's always Zoom. And in these precarious times, celebrating from a distance is a small price to pay to keep everyone safe.
10. The meaningful text
If travel of any sort isn’t in the cards for you, because you or someone in your home is high risk or just the stress isn’t worth it, guess what? You don’t have to do anything this year. Sometimes, the best part of a holiday — be it Mother’s Day or Christmas or my birthday — are the flood of texts from people I love affirming that they love me back. In a year as crazy as this one, it can be as simple as that.
