By Merriah Fairchild, Bridgetown Baby

As humans, we divide and define the year by its seasons and its celebrations. This year the COVID-19 pandemic raises the question: how will we re-envision our usual traditions to make them both safe and meaningful?

The fall and winter seasons are chock full of beloved family celebrations and traditions, from Halloween to Thanksgiving, Diwali to Rosh Hashanah, Kwanzaa to Christmas, and all the baby showers and birthdays in between.

This three-part series draws on the creativity of a diverse bunch of Portland families, who are meeting this challenge with gusto. Their stories and experiences offer examples and inspiration for updated celebrations in the COVID age.

Part 2: Early Winter Festivities and Rites of Passage

Diwali ~ November 14

Diwali is on November 14 and in some places is celebrated on multiple nights. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.

“Diwali is the festival of lights, when we celebrate new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. In the past, we’ve gone to a large community celebration at our temple or held our own smaller celebrations with friends. We get dressed up, eat a big vegetarian meal, and light off fireworks. This year Diwali may be just our pod (my mom, my brother, plus our family) – and without fireworks (we didn’t buy any this year because of COVID!).” –Kalpana, mother of Kavi (10) and Sachin (12)

Thanksgiving ~ November 26

“Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday since childhood because of the emphasis on family gathering and giving thanks to God. We celebrate by preparing and eating a LOT of good food, spending quality time with friends and family, and giving thanks.  

As an adult, I became more knowledgeable about the origin of the holiday and since having kids continue to celebrate BUT with an acknowledgement of what Indigenous peoples have endured/continue to endure; we use the time together to expand our discussion on the painful history but also to celebrate Indigenous communities.  

This year our family circle will be smaller and more intimate, with only our household present. Being healthy and safe with our family during this time of coronavirus is something to truly celebrate and give thanks for.“ –Anyeley, mother to Lafayette (10) and Seraphine (5)

Advent – December 1-25

“On each day of December, from the 1st all the way up to Christmas Day, our homemade Advent calendar suggests an activity or provides a small gift to help our family celebrate connection and the joy of giving. With COVID, our festivities and gifts of service will be smaller and more private – for example, we’ll assemble health kits for homeless youth at home rather than alongside others at a local nonprofit this year. But just as our Advent winter village (above) grows and changes with new additions every winter, we’ll still build on our traditions of connection, service and the beauty of the giving season this Advent – even if it all looks a little bit different this time around.” –Brita, mother to Freja (11) and Espen (5)

Ceremonies:

Baby Shower

“We’d originally planned a big baby shower, to celebrate with friends from all over the country, but when things got dicey with COVID, we pared down to just our closest family members. My mom and sister transformed our back yard into a magical, socially-distanced party landscape, and my girlfriends and other faraway family were able to participate through a beautiful tribute video that we showed at the shower. It was hard not to share hugs, or let family feel Bowie kicking, but we felt so loved and so celebrated!” –Sarah, mother to Bowie (3 months)

Bris/Baby Naming Ceremony

“My wife and I were expecting a boy in June of this year, and we planned to circumcise at 8 days with a small gathering. As the pandemic continued to escalate we had to modify all our plans, including circumcision. We learned from our mohel, Rabbi Fischer, that the procedure was exactly the same until 2 months old, but could be more traumatic after that. We decided to postpone until he was 1 month old instead of 8 days, when his immune system was a little stronger. We only invited my parents and one other couple and we all wore masks (the mohel wore a face shield as well) to ensure everyone, especially our baby boy, stayed safe. We are happy with our decision and know we’ll look back on it as a unique and special time.”-Bernice, mother of Silas (6 months)

We are wishing you connection and joy as you find new ways to celebrate this year – and we hope you’ll keep us posted on the ways you’ve updated the traditions you share with your littles and other loved ones! Tag us at instagram.com/bridgetownbaby or facebook.com/bridgetownbaby

Merriah Fairchild is a Certified Postpartum Doula, IBCLC and Founder of Bridgetown Baby. She lives and parents in SE Portland. During the pandemic, Merriah learned that she enjoys painting houses (her own) even more than homeschooling her two daughters, 7 and 10, but enjoys caring for new and growing families most of all.

Bridgetown Baby is Portland’s premier postpartum doula group, providing comprehensive postpartum and feeding support to help families grow with strength & confidence. During the pandemic, Bridgetown Baby is doing everything possible to minimize risk to families and doulas while providing the support families need now more than ever. To learn more go to: www.bridgetownbaby.com