Old Traditions, New Visions: Celebrating During a Pandemic – Part 3

In Part 3 of Celebrating During a Pandemic, we focus on Hanukkah, Christmas Eve, Kwanza and New Years Eve during COVID 19.

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 3: December Celebrations and Starting the New Year

Hanukkah ~ December 10-December 18

During normal years, Hanukkah is a wonderful holiday to celebrate. During a pandemic and other hard times, however, the Jewish Festival of Lights also helps remind us that we are stronger than we think and have more blessings than we typically count. 

The ancient story of Hanukkah is about how an outnumbered and outmatched army of Jews successfully fought back against powerful occupiers to liberate their country and freely practice their traditions. At the conclusion of the conflict, the Jews discovered that one of their most treasured symbols – the everlasting oil lamp hanging over the Torah – had been extinguished by the occupiers, that only a day’s worth of oil remained, and that it would take eight days before the oil could be replenished. However, through a miracle, that one container of oil lasted eight days. 

In modern times, we celebrate Hanukkah over an eight day period by retelling the story, eating foods fried in oil, lighting a succession of eight candles on a special candelabra called a Menorah, and playing games with a wooden top called a Dreidel inscribed with an acronym reminding us that “A Great Miracle Happened There.” 

Like Christmas, Diwali and other winter festivals, Hanukkah likely came from ancient people who wanted to bring warmth, light and life to an otherwise dark and cold time of year. 

For this reason, Hanukkah is always happily received in my household. This year, the holiday will also help remind us of the many people who came before us, of all cultures and faiths, who displayed remarkable perseverance and resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges, and overcome differences to work together against a common threat. –David Rosenfeld, father to Lyla (8) and Sarai (11)

Christmas Eve ~ December 24

“One Christmas in another sad year, our appetites dulled by grief, my parents and I abandoned our usual fancy Christmas Eve meal for a simple meal of soup and homemade french bread. This meal became Christmas tradition. Now, more than 20 years later, and with my husband and kids in tow, it remains a way of connecting with each other and with those who are suffering on Christmas Eve. COVID makes this year the first in my kids’ lives that we won’t travel to celebrate together; so we will recreate the beloved meal in our home and gather over Zoom with the grandparents to open gifts of service and charity given in each others’ names (along with some toys and books, to be sure!). I think this year we will all be deeply grateful that we can connect across the distance while keeping each other safe and healthy.” –Brita, mother to Freja (11) and Espen (5)

Kwanzaa ~ December 26

“I celebrate Kwanzaa because it’s a celebration of community, family, culture and creativity. This year I will be hosting a FREE virtual Kwanzaa Story hour sponsored by Multnomah County Library on December 19, 2020, from 10:30am -11:15am. We’ll be reading a book titled My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz, followed by activities to learn about the colors of Kwanzaa (red, black & green).” –Nikki Brown, Black Literacy Advocate

nikkibrownclown.com 

Zoom link: multco-us.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqdOutqjgvEtAekkEo06ErsMaU1Ce8xH2F

New Years Eve ~ December 31

“Now that home is the hot ticket every night, our standing New Year’s plans can be your plans, too. We decide when the ball drops, countdown from 10, then shout “Happy New Year!” and bang all our pots and pans together. Sometimes we choose another place in the world to celebrate with (it’s midnight in Portugal at 4pm, and 8pm West Coast time is midnight in Buenos Aires). Or just countdown whenever the mood strikes with the Countdown Collection on Netflix.

Our kids are now teenagers and sleep too late to join us, but our annual New Year’s Day tradition when they were little was to head out in the morning to spot bald eagles, then come home for hot chocolate.” –Sarah, mother to Jack (14) and Oliver (12) 

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!

• Celebrating During a Pandemic Part 1
• Celebrating During a Pandemic Part 2

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