How Christmas would be different this year 2020?

Christmas is just a little over a month away, and while people would usually be giving out early decorations or TV ads at this time of year, conversation in 2020 is very different.

Covid-19 means that everything we’re used to doing at Christmas time is likely to be a lot different in this festive season.

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Even the most enthusiastic of the people can’t imagine that Ireland will be Covid free by December, so all the traditions you’re used to doing will have to change.

Like household restrictions and social distance laws, everything from catching up with friends to having dinner itself will be weird.

Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach said “The focus for Ireland now has to be on getting the numbers down really low if numbers are low at the end of the six-week lockdown period, there was the hope of “a meaningful Christmas”.

Here are quite a variety of things that would certainly not be the same if we have any level of restriction in Ireland:

1: Christmas Shopping:

The retail market is looking forward to Christmas, but with some fear, as there is a chance that the normal seasonal uplift will not happen this year. Retailers have been hit hard by Covid-19 over the last few months, with many shops forced to close for weeks and, when re-opened, having to reconfigure their facilities and bring in action all manner of procedures to ensure the safety of workers and consumers. People have become used to queuing outside stores waiting for the green light to come in and now used to wearing masks while shopping.

2. Christmas Dinner:

For huge families who are used to having more than a dozen people coming to the traditional turkey roast, they’re not going to get it this year.

Household limits may, almost undoubtedly, also be in force, and there will be some sort of limitation to how many guests you can invite.

3. Christmas Carol:

What’s Christmas without carols and festive tunes? People are used to the steady sound of music as the festive season rolls around, from the Christmas pop hits last year pumping out of the PA department store to the warm, soothing sounds of the Carol singers fluttering out of the cathedral. This year may have had a very unique feel to Christmas carols too due to the restrictions.

4. Christmas Office Party:

The typical office parties look likely to be laid off for most of the workforce, except if you’re working in small offices or planning to do so remotely via different online video applications.

Most people are already working from home and have no plans to return to their respective offices till next year.

At the moment, people are not allowed to gather outdoors or indoors for any party. House parties are also banned at the moment.

⠀5. Christmas Lights:

You know Christmas is close when the festive lights start showing up on Grafton Street, O’Connell Street and other public squares. Traditionally, people gather in the city centre to watch a show before formally turning on the Christmas decorations, although this would have to be reconsidered under public health recommendations for outdoor celebrations.

6. Christmas Mass:

Usually, Christmas is the busiest time of the year for churches, but with limitations, most people would not make it to the local church this Christmas.

Instead of that, they can organise small remote parties indoors and even watch them online or on their television sets.

7. Christmas Eve Pub crawling: 

Seeing friends at the pub on Christmas Day is the most exciting way that all of us take part in.

When the pubs or bars may be allowed to reopen after December 2nd, customers will still be asked to enter the inside, but ordering at the crowded bar is out of the question with limited table service only and people have to wear masks in the pubs and maintain social distancing while they are not seated at their table.