Isolation. Uncertainty. Simultaneous overwhelm and monotony. There are all kinds of words we can use to describe the last 21 months or so. And everyone’s experience of this evolving situation has been different, most assuredly. When we look back at our first “pandemic Christmas” last year, we weren’t sure what was going on. As we head into another “pandemic Christmas” holiday season, I thought I’d take a moment, step back, and assess the situation.
We’re going to make our way through this. I’m just not entirely sure what it’s all going to look like. Of course, I can only speak from the perspective of my family and the local conditions here in Metro Vancouver. I’m very interested to hear how things are playing out with your family and in your neck of the woods, so please comment below with your situation and how you’re handling it all.
Taking Pictures With Santa
The whole mall Santa thing was never really a thing for me growing up. If I ever did sit on Santa’s lap for a picture, for the life of me I can’t find any photographic evidence of this event. As I mentioned in a Christmas vlog a few years ago, our family inadvertently started a tradition of taking pictures with Santa at Metropolis at Metrotown. That tradition ended last year when just about every mall in Vancouver canceled their Santa photo program.
I didn’t put together another mall Santa roundup feature this year. But, from what I can tell, several places are offering some version of pictures with Santa for 2021. Both The Amazing Brentwood and The City of Lougheed in Burnaby are doing Santa pictures. However, Metropolis at Metrotown is not. They’re doing a 3D projection festive train instead.
At this point, I don’t think Santa photos will be in the cards for this pandemic Christmas either, at least not for our family. It’s a big shame, really, as our youngest has yet to have his first Santa experience. Maybe next year? Hopefully?
Enjoying Local Christmas Events
Remember how there were several Vancouver Christmas events last year in 2020 that were announced, altered and ultimately cancelled altogether? Well, here is some good news. While it is another pandemic Christmas, it seems like a lot of holiday events and festive displays are back for 2021. In fact, we’ve already been to several of them.
Pop over to my Instagram page and you’ll see Reels from Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge, Bright Nights in Stanley Park, WinterLights at PNE, and Lights at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam. Companies are taking reasonable precautions where they can, so you can expect limited capacity, timed entry and other preventative measures in place.
Even with these measures in place, the fact that these Christmas events are happening at all helps to restore some normalcy to yet another weird year.
Attending Family Dinners and Gatherings
Skipping pictures with Santa is hardly the end of the world. Enjoying some local Christmas events and light displays certainly lets us enjoy more of the spirit of the season. They give us something to look forward to doing and visiting as a family.
But, here’s the thing: it’s only our immediate family, our individual household. Really, the biggest thing that’s missing this pandemic Christmas — just as the thing that was missing in 2020 — is the big family gathering. Or gatherings, plural.
I know that we no longer have those guidelines and mandates in place that restrict us from gathering with other households. We could technically get together with extended family. We could have our usual boisterous meal with all the kids running around wreaking havoc and having a joyous old time. But, I don’t see that happening this year either. I haven’t heard anything from my aunts and cousins, and I normally would have by now.
Based on the Twitter poll results, it looks like most other people are feeling the same way.
Do you plan on having an extended family Christmas dinner this year?
— Michael Kwan (Beyond the Rhetoric) (@michaelkwan) December 9, 2021
That said, we might have a much, much smaller gathering with maybe one or two other households at a time. It’s not the same thing, but it’s way more than we had last Christmas.
How’s Your Pandemic Christmas Going?
We’ve endured one pandemic summer after another and now we’re in the middle of a second pandemic Christmas season too. Even though our family isn’t religious, we still see this as a very special time of year. There’s a lot going on, a lot to see, a lot of traditions to maintain and create. And, as stressful as it can be to find the right holiday gifts for everyone and to juggle several family gatherings, I still miss getting together with everyone. Especially after all this time.
But, I’m confident that we’ll get through this together, even if we’re physically apart. It’s going to be okay, right?
I haven’t eaten in a restaurant or gone to a movie or done almost anything else in almost 2 years. My priority has been staying healthy… it’s been hard. This Christmas will still be quiet for us.
We keep getting told that it’s not forever, it’s only for now, but that doesn’t make it any easier when we don’t know when we’ll see the end of this tunnel.
It’s past Christmas now, but thought I’d still comment. I actually lost a lot. There’s a lot I’m not allowed to do even if I want to do it. Yes, I’m one of “those people.” 😉 But then again, I look around me and everyone else who isn’t like me aren’t exactly that much more freer soo… But anyway, I also gained quite a bit. You really get to learn more about yourself when you’re not so distracted by all the other stuff. And I’ve learned to be more appreciative of what I do have and not be so preoccupied with what I would like. I’m sure there are more lessons to learn, but those are just a couple. But you did give me some ideas on things to do that doesn’t have to be in a restaurant. I’ll probably head out to Cap Suspension Bridge sometime. Maybe the lights are still up.