Celebrating Thanksgiving will look much different this year than it has in the past. It has been difficult to adjust to all the changes that COVID-19 has brought on us but I am here to reassure you that there are still ways we can celebrate this holiday safely.

Whether you are planning to spend Thanksgiving with your family, at home or hosting a virtual Thanksgiving event, now is the time to plan on making new traditions.

Here are some ideas for ways to get in the spirit of the holiday while adhering to COVID-19 regulations:

• Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: this year, the parade will be modified to TV-only in an effort to limit crowds, but the show is still on like always! Watch it from the comfort and safety of your own home to get in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
• Host a virtual Thanksgiving Dinner: use any sort of virtual meeting platform to eat Thanksgiving dinner with extended family members or friends that you aren’t able to spend the holiday with this year. This is a great way to simulate the traditional feel of Thanksgiving while staying safe.
• Try out some new recipes: look up some new Thanksgiving recipes that you’d like to incorporate into your dinner this year and try them out. Spending time in the kitchen is a great way to keep yourself busy!
• Get into the spirit of giving back to those less fortunate by donating/volunteering: while it is always important to practice giving back, this year has brought a lot of financial hardship on families in light of the Covid-19 outbreak. There are many wonderful organizations that you can research and donate to. There are also lots of great volunteer opportunities being held both virtually and in-person (masked and distanced) around Dallas.

Traditions are hard to break, and I know that not being able to spend a holiday that is so heavily reliant on the importance of being with family is difficult. I encourage everyone to set aside our personal feelings for the greater good this year and learn how to be with family by using virtual tools.

“It is tough not being able to spend Thanksgiving this year with many members of my family, but I know that staying safe is the most important thing right now,” senior Madison Nguyen said. “I am hoping to make the best of the situation right now by making new traditions!”