It is finally that time of year: the season of Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, giving (and receiving) presents is finally upon us. But, as many things are this year with the pandemic wrecking havoc all around the globe, Christmas is going to look a lot different than how most people imagined. Usually, Christmas is a time of being with loved ones and spreading the joy of the holidays. But with COVID-19 and the new restrictions in place, most students agree they are having to get more creative with how to do this. 

Junior Kayla Farkas typically spends Christmas Eve at her aunt’s house, and then visits her dad’s side of the family on Christmas day for a big dinner. This year, however, they aren’t seeing any family at all. They are using this time instead to make a difference in the community around them. Kayla and her family are donating to the food drive at Water Street Mission, and she’s making Christmas cards for a nursing home. Although she’s disappointed about this turn of events, she and her family are trying to make the best of it.

Others are doing similar activities. Since they aren’t seeing family, students have taken this time to start new traditions and try things they maybe wouldn’t have considered for Christmas in years past.

“This year we’re not going to my grandparents’ house because we don’t want to risk getting them sick, but we are going to go on a small ski trip for a few days,” says Freshman Ava Shirk. She is sad she won’t get to be seeing her family this year, but she understands that it is necessary to stay safe given the circumstances. Her family is still continuing the fun this year, just in a different way. 

Some students, like Sophomore Ali Bube, are thinking of new ways to continue past traditions. Bube, a violinist in the MT orchestra, typically plays at her grandmother’s church with her brother on Christmas. But since this is no longer happening due to the coronavirus, she and her brother are either going to send in videos of them playing or do it over Zoom. 

As many students voiced, it is hard not being able to see family this year. “Usually I just look forward to seeing everyone, because some years we don’t see each other the entire year,” says  Freshman Matt Rey. When family members live far away or all lead busy lives, the holidays are sometimes the only time they can get together, and this year, even that is proving to be challenging. 

With this new set of challenges comes another difficulty students have encountered. With all the different opinions about the best way to handle the pandemic, there can even be disagreements between family members about this. As Rey explains, his family is going to New York for Christmas this year to visit his uncle. 

And although he didn’t feel comfortable going, he felt like he really didn’t have a choice. “I didn’t want to talk about it with my family because I didn’t want to get into an argument, so I kind of let it happen,” he says.

But, despite the circumstances and challenges this Christmas season brings, students are still finding ways to bring about some holiday cheer and spend time with the people they enjoy being around. 

“My family got a projector over quarantine for outside entertainment so I’ve been having friends over outside and around my fire to watch movies on the projector or to just hang out,” says Senior Hope Boldizar. 

Although this time of year is requiring people to think outside the box a bit more than usual, students are still finding ways to make this season just as fun as any other. “I always look forward to decorating my house inside and out to get in the Christmas spirit,’ Boldizar says.