Celebrating Thanksgiving in The Time of a Pandemic

Celebrating Thanksgiving in The Time of a Pandemic

Thanksgiving is when sons and daughters who had migrated to other states or cities for work or higher education come home to celebrate the holiday season with their parents and siblings. An ideal Thanksgiving morning begins with the preparation of a turkey feast (if you’re a vegan, a turkey substitute) for the much-awaited Thanksgiving dinner amidst an enthusiastic viewing of a game of football on the small screen. Then, once the feast is spread out on the dining table, and everyone is seated, each family member says what he or she is thankful for before feasting.

Thanksgiving 2020, admittedly, has not been a good year, what with the spread of a global pandemic and the loss of numerous lives and jobs around the world. However, the best way to move forward is to look at the glass as half full. We still have many things to be thankful for, such as the responsible and brave health workers and first responders who continue to do their jobs at treating the sick and protecting the helpless, having affordable technology and gadgets to resume work and education from the safety of our homes, and the resilience of the humankind to survive any disaster as we help one another during hard times. Celebrating a special occasion even during tough times is good for the soul.

How to Celebrate Thanksgiving 2020 in The Safety of Your Home

From small Thanksgiving dinners to virtual gatherings, Thanksgiving 2020 is going to be unique like every other holiday we have celebrated this year. What’s common for all these festivals is the importance of following social distancing rules for the safety of everyone in your home and your city. Here are some pointers to help you safely celebrate Thanksgiving 2020 with your loved ones:

● Follow the guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and avoid large gatherings and travel during a worldwide pandemic.

● Limit your Thanksgiving dinner invites to the people already in your household. This way, you can avoid the risk of getting COVID-19 infection from a guest.

● Forgo shopping in crowded stores and malls, instead order your Thanksgiving paraphernalia from online stores and have it delivered to your home.

● Avoid large gatherings like parades on your street or parks, beaches, and recreational areas. If you have to participate, then do it from the safety of your home by using online services and facilities that allow you to participate in an event without risking the spread of the disease.

● If you have guests for the holiday then take precautions, such as sanitizing the surfaces frequently, using disposable utensils, wearing masks, and maintaining six feet distance from each other.

● Protect the vulnerable members of your household like the elderly or people with pre-existing diseases from COVID-19 infection by minimizing their exposure to guests as some of them could be asymptomatic.

● If possible, opt for virtual Thanksgiving celebrations like having dinner and playing games with family members and friends via online video calls instead of gathering in person and increasing the chances of spreading the disease. Download free video call apps and online games on your smartphone, laptop, or tablet to set up a virtual gathering.

● While you are thankful for continued good health, safety, and comfort, don’t forget to share your good fortune with the less fortunate people and animals. Donate to organizations or groups that are feeding the homeless and the needy so that they too have something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Remember, by following the social distancing rules, you can spread good cheer and love without spreading the disease. With the progress in the development of vaccines for COVID-19 by scientists and pharmaceutical companies around the world, you can take comfort in the knowledge that Thanksgiving next year, can be celebrated with your loved ones in person. Till then, endeavor to celebrate responsibly. Here’s wishing a happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!