corona Christmas begins on Halloween

Corona Christmas begins on Halloween.

Today instead of trick or treating, Christmas began in my house. I’m sure this will elicit some negative responses. “Utter nonsense. It’s much too early for Christmas. There are other holidays to celebrate before December.”

But I argue that anything which can add any amount of joy to 2020, no matter how small, should be started as soon as possible.

British Winters need Christmas

The winter is difficult enough when you live on the most northern bits of the globe. Daylight hours shrink from nearly 17 hours to a mere 7.5 in East Anglia. Perhaps it would be easier to cope if the sun actually shone for those 7.5 hours. Mostly it’s grey. From October until March. You take vitamin D and the desperate among us buy SAD lamps. I myself have been meaning to get one for weeks.

Anything that can add any amount of joy to 2020 should be started as soon as possible.

anywayward

Corona Halloween and Thanksgiving

This year, as we all know, is more complex. Halloween doesn’t have the same appeal. It’s no wonder – it’s no longer the only day of the year one can wear a mask. Besides, every day that I can keep fabric off my face helps it heal from the mask acne that afflicts me.

Thanksgiving, though, will have its day. Because Thanksgiving isn’t a British Holiday, it requires a more focused effort to acquire the ingredients for an acceptable dinner on the day. A few weeks ago we called a local butcher and he has promised us turkey. The bird of choice is usually not available in Britain until closer to Christmas when it sits in pride of place on the dinner table.

We have come to the conclusion that we can’t have turkey for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. We would be absolutely buried in leftovers. Just finishing one is enough of a challenge for the two of us.

Already there have been gentle debates as we try to determine which beast should be featured for Christmas. Beef? Pheasant? Ham? Lamb?

The Extended Corona Christmas

I grew up with magical childhood Christmases. On the day after Thanksgiving, we went to the tree farm to find and cut down our Christmas tree. Decorations were retrieved from the attic and placed throughout the house. Candles were lit, carols and the aromas of Christmas filled the house. It was always a family event and more often than not it included an argument that coincided with the detangling of the Christmas lights. It was a full day of work, but the cozy, Christmas atmosphere was created and it lasted well into January.

I look back fondly on my Christmas memories and I will be sad not to see my family this year. Instead I will have the grey, gloomy British winter. Unfortunately that won’t be the only harrowing thing to face. It’s unlikely we’ll be able to go in search of the midwinter comfort of a roaring pub fire. Christmas shopping will be done online. The markets won’t be bustling with rosy-cheeked people searching for a gift to give to those near and dear to them.

After today’s announcement that we’ll be going into another national lockdown, it seems social isolation will persist. Any activity will be laced with a certain amount of risk.

The British American, Corona Christmas

In England, Christmas celebrations don’t really begin until a week or two before Christmas Day. I myself (and many other American expats here) generally push to begin Christmas immediately after Thanksgiving. My insistence is typically met with resistance.

This year, however, I’m getting no grief from David. In fact, I think he’s rather keen to have the distraction. I think we both can appreciate that we should be trying to find joy wherever we can during these dark times.

I want to color this season with joy instead of the despair.

anywayward

Finding joy where we can

There’s no time like now to do the things which bring us joy. That is true in spite of coronavirus, but it seems a particularly obvious thing to do in the middle of a pandemic. If that means I start my Corona Christmas now, then that seems reasonable enough to me. Anything to stay sane.

For those concerned about beginning Christmas on Halloween, I won’t be “decking the halls” just yet.

I will be starting my Christmas cards. Spreading joy by sending messages of love and encouragement through the mail to the other side of the world.

I will be buying my Christmas presents early. The plan is to ship them directly to their recipients who have agreed to wrap them and keep them safe until Christmas.

I will be listening to Christmas music fairly soon. “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

And today we have made our Christmas Cake – the pud of honor on Christmas Day.

When we are all being encouraged to hole up in our homes we have to find ways to take care of ourselves. Creating and spreading joy should always be at the heart of Christmas. Receiving something which connects us to another can be a lifeline.

To combat this second wave of Coronavirus, I want to color this season with joy instead of despair.

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