It’s the last night of Hanukkah and one week until Christmas, which means it’s that time of year when most of us would normally be hustling about town finishing —or, let’s be honest, just starting—our holiday shopping. Not this year, of course, with the state under mandatory stay-at-home orders. That’s why it’s more important than ever to safely stay connected with friends and family while doing our part to avoid overwhelming our healthcare system. That doesn’t mean we have to miss out on the fun that this time of year promises, though—here’s another tip on maximizing the season’s spirit while minimizing our risk.
Week 8: Holiday Caroling 2.0
Livestream a family singalong
If your favorite part of the holidays is belting out classic tunes, good news: With a few updates, caroling is still on the table this year.
Host a video chat singalong right from home!
- Pick a date and ask each household to choose a favorite carol to perform.
- Share the order of songs and all the lyrics in advance.
- During the event, ask everyone to stay muted unless they’re performing (otherwise, small delays in Internet speeds could turn caroling into chaos) but encourage everyone to sing along from home. Some services like Watch2gether can help a group live-stream lyrics at the same rate, if you want to go that route.
Prefer a permanent option? Ask everyone to record songs on their own time and have the family tech whiz edit them into one video.
Other Resources for Staying Healthy
State and local governments are issuing rules for gatherings, and we should abide by them. For official guidance about staying healthy this holiday season, please visit these sites to stay up-to-date:
- State of California Holidays and COVID-19
- Alameda County COVID-19 Main Website
- Los Angeles County COVID-19 Main Website
- San Francisco County COVID-19 Main Website
- Center for Disease Control Holiday Guidelines
For the latest news about the Masonic Homes and COVID-19, including employee policies, visit the Masonic Homes website or the Acacia Creek Website.