The end of this very peculiar year is approaching and we all know that Christmas 2020 will be very different. With the continuing situation surrounding COVID-19, the festive period will be simpler and shorter this year, but no less fun!
In 2020, celebrating Christmas as a family will focus on enjoying each other's company, unwinding, and enjoying the simplest things in life. From all of us here at VIVA Hotels, here are some ideas to help you experience Christmas to the full!
Getting ready for a family Christmas
From the moment the Christmas lights are switched on, magically illuminating countless streets all around the world, we start getting into the Christmas spirit. And this year is a perfect one to bring all that Christmas spirit home, as this is where we spend most of our time, and where we’re sure to spend those special festive days this Christmas.
It’s a good time to rediscover certain family traditions at Christmas, or even to create new ones. Without a doubt, one of the most fun Christmas activities, especially if you have small children, is decorating the tree. A great idea is to create homemade decorations to decorate the tree and the house, and even to give them away as gifts to family, friends, or neighbours – you’re sure to make their day!
Another way to enjoy Christmas with your family is by watching Christmas movies - it’s not Christmas without them! Create your very own cinema at home with cushions, blankets, and even popcorn. This is a great opportunity for your children to get to know some classics or for everyone to choose their favourite film to share with the family.
And how about accompanying your movie night with something delicious to eat? Baking Christmas biscuits is a great Christmas activity to spend time together and try out new recipes. If all goes well, you can repeat the recipe for Christmas dinner!
If you’d like to try something different this year, then why don’t you try your hand at some typical Mallorcan pastries and sweets? We can recommend the coca de Nadal, a typical potato and aniseed Christmas cake, quartos, ensaimadas and madritxos. They’re perfect for the time of year, and go down really well with a cup of hot chocolate.
Something that you can’t miss in December is to go and see your town’s Christmas lights. Grab your hat, gloves, and mask and have an afternoon stroll to discover what’s new this year. And, if you live in Spain or Mallorca, don't forget to buy a Christmas lottery ticket!
Spending the night together as a family
Christmas is much more than gifts and traditions. It’s a time when we gather with our family to give thanks for what we have and to enjoy it together. And, even if you can't see the whole family at Christmas this year, they’ll certainly be with you in another way. You can celebrate together with a video call to help you feel closer to each other, and why not send some Christmas cards and gifts by post to brighten up their Christmas?
The best plans for Christmas this year is to have a relaxed Christmas dinner and then enjoy some fun Christmas activities as a family, to make it a really special night. In addition to the traditional board games, there are other options to have fun at Christmas.
How about letting the kids run around the house while you enjoy a nice glass of Christmas punch? You could organize a "Where’s Wally?" game, but with figures from your Nativity scene or Christmas decorations. If you’d prefer something for the whole family, then a carol karaoke is a great option that will ensure loads of laughs.
A quieter activity, but one which really gets the adrenaline going, is a game of Christmas bingo. The prize doesn’t have to be something physical - the winner could be allowed to choose what to eat for a whole week, for example. Another popular Christmas game among families is the Christmas alphabet, where each person has 10 seconds to think of a word related to the festive season with each successive letter of the alphabet.
There are many more activities for a fun family Christmas at home, which both children and adults can enjoy. Having a games evening is the perfect option to liven up this rather peculiar Christmas, and also to be able to relax and unwind, at least for a few hours.
In 2020, it’s going to be a different Christmas, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. It's a perfect opportunity to have a cosy, relaxed Christmas dinner - a great excuse to take a break from your usual routine!
From all of us here at Hotels VIVA, we’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we hope that you’ll be able to enjoy the best possible Christmas as a family, surrounded by love and happiness. Bon Nadal!
¡VIVA Christmas!
