The holiday season is once again upon us, but this time the celebration looks a little different.

Like everything else in 2020, we are once again forced to adapt to the (not so) new protocols. For many, that means breaking an honored holiday tradition to adhere to social distancing measures. At Beaver Area, “where tradition dictates a standard of excellence,” that can be hard to do.

However, that doesn’t need to be the case. Here are several ways to adapt old traditions to new standards.

One common tradition is decorating a gingerbread house, or more easily, gingerbread people. While this may seem like a task that’s more fun while surrounded by family and friends, it can also be done while staying safe. You can host a “decorating challenge” over Zoom or another platform. Whomever does the best job decorating their gingerbread wins! Another bonus is that you get to keep the final product for yourself!

Many people enjoy decorating their trees with loved ones. Due to COVID, that’s something that can’t be done for many people. Instead of worrying about breaking tradition, think of ways to innovate the custom. Perhaps it can be another competition, a race to see who can put up their tree the fastest.

A longstanding tradition for many is opening presents on the day they celebrate. While some open their presents in the morning and take pictures, others wait until later to open their presents with loved ones. If you’re one of the later, a way to keep that custom in this environment is a video call with those opening presents. An added bonus is not having to pretend to like the bad gifts—we all know the ones—just point the camera elsewhere.

This year, the tradition of holiday movie marathons can continue . . . or start anew. Hosting a movie marathon over Zoom is easier than ever, and if you’re the host, you can make the executive decisions on what to watch. No more dreaded fighting over the remote (or whether that cringy Jim Carrey Grinch movie should make the list)!

No matter what your holiday traditions, there’s always a way to adapt to this ever-changing environment. So whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Festivus, or just enjoy the festivities, have a happy and safe holiday season!