ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — You can look at the ideas of self-isolation and social distancing in two ways, Patricia Andrews reckons.
You can see it as a necessary measure urged by the government in response to a global pandemic — which it is. But you could also take it as a time to relax at home on cold winter nights, maybe watching a movie and making the most of time with immediate family members.
Much like Christmas.
Andrews is taking it a step further, and got her Christmas lights and decorations out of storage in an effort to brighten up a stressful time.
“I just came home and my mom said to me, ‘It’s Christmas!’” Andrews’ 18-year-old daughter, Monet Hoyt, told The Telegram, describing how their Christmas trees are back in place as they were three months ago, and so are the lights on the mantelpiece, the stair railing garland and tabletop candleholders. There’s been hot chocolate and Christmas carols and roaring fires in the fireplace.
Thursday night, the plan was to plug in the outdoor Christmas lights, still up since the snow made them unreachable until now.
“We’re all forced to self-isolate and it can be a little scary, especially for children,” said Andrews, a longtime teacher through the Performing Arts Group, her St. John’s-based performance school. “We’re all a bit nervous because of the virus, and children are stuck inside. Some of us in the arts community are losing our livelihood for now. I want to bring a little light to the darkness and put a bit of the kindness and compassion that people have at Christmas — and should have all the time — back into our heart.”
Andrews isn’t the only one inspired by the Christmas spirit as the coronavirus sweeps the globe. As the direction to distance ourselves from others increases, there’s a Twitter movement calling for people to put their Christmas lights back up as a sign of hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. The Hallmark Channel didn’t hesitate in picking up the Christmas vibe, announcing it will air a marathon of 27 holiday movies on TV over the weekend.
“We agree that we all need a little Christmas now,” the TV channel tweeted.
You asked and we heard you! We agree that we all need a little Christmas now. Starting Friday at 12pm/11c we will air a Christmas movie marathon all weekend long only on @hallmarkchannel. pic.twitter.com/YlhBOAEn43
— Hallmark Channel (@hallmarkchannel) March 19, 2020
Andrews suggests making Christmas extra fun by family members creating gifts for each other to put under the tree every morning. So far, Monet has made her a tissue paper flower bouquet; she responded with a cardboard checkerboard, with nickels and dimes as checkers.
“Pull a name of a family member out of a hat and create something for that person,” Andrews said. “Don’t spend any money, just use what you have in the house. Make something, sew something, write a poem or a monologue or a story, sing a song or dance. Give a free massage or offer to do the dishes. Make cookies. There are so many things you can do with your family, creative things and artistic things, to make this a happier time and a less scary time for kids.”
If everyone put their LED Christmas lights back up, or even paper window decorations, going for a drive around the neighbourhood to see them could be another family-friendly but still socially distant and self-isolating activity, she said.
Go all out and have a Christmas dinner if you want to, Andrews suggested.
“Since we’re basically stuck inside, I want the smell of Christmas back here,” she said. “I want the feeling of it. This time in the world when there’s so much happening so quickly and we’re so nervous, it doesn’t have to be so bad. We can make the darkness light.”
"People around the world are lighting up their communities with festive colors to show solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic. #LightsForLife pic.twitter.com/2eS9UkebL1"
— Muzamil (@promuzi) March 20, 2020
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