As December approaches, one question must be on your mind: how can we celebrate the festive season this year?
This year has been very, very strange. Back in March when the pandemic started, we wondered what the summer would be like… Now that winter is here, Christmas and the festive season are on many people’s minds. Christmas is my favourite holiday, and I’m always so excited for it come November. This year is definitely going to be different, with the lockdowns and restrictions in place in many countries… So if you are wondering how to get in the Christmas mood in 2020, this post is for you!
Outdoors Christmas fun ideas:
🎅 Get your favourite festive drink from a coffee shop you enjoy: Starbucks, Caffe Nero, Costa… Or your local independent coffee shop. My favourite Christmas drink? Starbucks’ toffee nut latte!
🎁 Start your Christmas shopping now! The earlier, the better. Put on your warmest coat to brave the cold and visit the shops (if they are open where you live and you are not in lockdown like we are here in France…). Bonus: the Christmas music playing in the stores! Some of my favourite places to get gifts are New Look, Primark, Whittards and Clinton’s in the UK. If you’re in the US, Bath & Body Works is always a good idea!
🎄 Go on a nature walk, in a park or forest, and pick some pine cones and fallen branches from pine trees or holly bushes. You can use them to decorate your home, from the dining table to the shelves in your bedroom!
At home festive ideas:
🎄 Play some Christmas music around the house! There are so many amazing videos on YouTube to suit your every mood: calming music when you wake up, fun Christmas classics when you’re cleaning or cooking… Click the following links to my favourite Christmas videos:
– these classics played on the piano, very peaceful
– the Michael Buble Christmas album
– fun classics, from Sinatra to Nat King Cole
– calming Christmas music with a mesmerising Christmas village animation in the background
– Harry Potter Christmas music!
🎅 Cook or bake something Christmassy! It’s time to cook all the meals that will warm up your body and soul. Check out my recipe of almond and cinnamon cookies (they are Christmas tree-shaped too!) and also my indulgent cinnamon hot chocolate recipe! + add other recipes
🎁 Watch Christmas movies, old and new! Christmas films can be cheesy, but they are heart-warming and cosy. Here are a few Christmas films you should watch this year: The Holiday, Love Actually, Elf, The Grinch, The Christmas Chronicles, Last Christmas, The Santa Clause (I adored this one as a child!), Home Alone, A Christmas Carol, Netflix’s A Christmas Prince, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Polar Express, Die Hard (yes, it counts as a Christmas film apparently). And many more! Let me know in the comments below what you favourite Christmas film is!
🤶 Plan a Christmas-themed Netflix Party with friends! You can all pick a film to watch from your respective homes (social distancing applies!) with snacks, and a group chat to comment on!
🎄 Have some fun with Snapchat and Instagram filters! When I have a few free minutes and want to procastinate, I love browsing through Instagram filters and taking silly selfies. I sometimes send them to my mum or boyfriend as it’s a little bit of fun! So how about you find a hilarious Christmas filter and make a friend or loved one smile? Sometimes, the smallest things are the most fun!
🎁 Organise a virtual Secret Santa! Usually a workplace favourite, Secret Santa may be tougher to plan this year due to the pandemic. If you can’t meet your friends or colleagues to do Secret Santa, create a group chat and make it go virtual! You can easily buy your gift and get it sent through the post. Presents are always nice, and this is a great way to keep fun Christmas traditions going! Here’s a post full of ideas to make it happen.
✨ What’s your favourite thing to do to get in the Christmas mood? Are you excited for the festive season? ✨
