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Going Old-School for a Merry COVID Christmas
Close your eyes for me. Take a deep breath. Clear your mind and then tell me your favorite Christmas memory from when you were a kid. Hopefully, lots of moments float through your mind’s eye, but no matter what you pick, it should wrap around you like a warm blanket and leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. I don’t know about you but the Christmas of my youth is different from much of what we experience in this day and age. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m an old soul and sometimes have an old-school attitude. Ssssshhhhhh!
Don’t get me wrong, during the COVID quarantine, I’ve been grateful for video chats, text messages and social media as means to connect with the outside world. I can’t imagine having gone through this 25 years ago, but, for me, there are still some things technology cannot replace. Let’s go old-school to bring JOY to those we love…near and far.
My sister and her family have one of my favorite old-school traditions. They let their girls open one gift on Christmas Eve. It contains new Christmas pajamas, a holiday-themed movie, hot chocolate and popcorn that you actually cook ON THE STOVE!! Can you believe that?!? They have so much fun shaking that popcorn over the heat and watching the top of the pan stretch and grow as the kernels pop. Popping corn on the stove has a special place in our hearts, because our MiMi did this with us when we spent the night with her. It’s something we treasure and are passing down to the next generation to keep her spirit alive and well in our homes.
Their other Christmas Eve activity is making cookies for Santa. This is not about making the perfect Christmas cookie. They make these cookies after they come home from Christmas Eve services, so it has to be quick and easy! Grab some premade cookie dough from the refrigerated section of the grocery store and let the kids plop ‘em on the cookie sheet and throw ‘em in the oven. You can buy candies, sprinkles, premade icing, etc. to decorate if you want. But, If you don’t, the kids won’t know what they’ve missed. They’ll still have a fabulous time and be really proud of the special cookies they made for Santa...with a few extras for themselves! The proof is in the pictures!
You can do this with your immediate family, but if you want to create a special experience for family you can’t be with this year, you can go old-school to make that happen, too! Do you remember the JOY you experienced when you got something just for you in the mail? When’s the last time you took the time to actually mail a card or package to someone? If we can’t be together this season, let’s still use the resources we have available to create meaningful connections. Send a care package with stovetop popcorn, a holiday movie, hot chocolate, Christmas pajamas and non-perishable cookie supplies. Start the tradition from afar, and next year you can enjoy it together.
They’ll be lots of shipping happening this year since travel will probably be limited, so make sure you plan ahead. Here’s some handy information from EasyShip—if you want your package to arrive by Christmas Day. For Christmas Eve arrival, you’ll need to start a little earlier.
Important note: While the below dates are good guidelines to follow, please keep in mind that these dates could change based on demand as we get further along in the season.
UPS
FedEx
USPS
So, now you’ve baked cookies, popped popcorn, sipped cocoa, watched a movie and snuggled down for a long winter’s nap in your new pajamas and/or made it possible for others to do the same. Can you imagine a more enjoyable start to Christmas? And, not once in all of that did I mention the word internet, social media, screen time, virtual or technology. I’m telling you…old-school is the way to go this year.
Of course, if you don’t want to eat that popcorn, you could string it together and make garland decorations for the Christmas tree. Add to that, paper chains and salt dough ornaments and you have a fabulous old-school Christmas tree, too. Check out this link from Country Living for 28 unique salt dough ornament ideas that you can start working on to bring in the JOYof the season now!
Sometimes, when we think old-school we think more work, but that isn’t always the case. In researching old-school Christmas, I stumbled across this article from My Food and Family for scrumptious and easy to make Christmas recipes. I haven’t tried all these recipes, but it’s food for thought. (see what I did there?!?) The list includes recipes for edible gifts, no-bake desserts and easy dinners. If you’re looking for something new to add to the menu without adding a ton of work, it might be worth perusing their list.
So, I have given you a few ideas to start with on your quest for an old-school Christmas. We’ve touched on gifts, décor, and food. I hope this inspires you to start your own old-school to-do list. I’d love to hear your ideas to add to these. What are your favorite traditions from childhood that you’re going to share with someone this year? Leave a comment here or drop a message to info@texaschristmaspickle.com to share your ideas. We’re counting down to Christmas, so join us next week for more ideas for a Merry COVID Christmas! You can check out our other installments in this 12-part series here!
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