Five safe ways to celebrate New Year's Eve during the COVID-19 pandemic

Looking for a way to celebrate the beginning of 2022 even in the pandemic? Consider celebrating from home with these five fun and safe ideas. Unsplash, Photo Courtesy
Looking for a way to celebrate the beginning of 2022 even in the pandemic? Consider celebrating from home with these five fun and safe ideas. Unsplash, Photo Courtesy

With the holiday season nearing its end, it can be tempting to spend more time with family and friends to ring in the new year. However, with the growing threat of COVID-19 and its variants, large gatherings and parties may not be the best idea, especially for those who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Nevertheless, 2021 is ending and 2022 is beginning, which calls for some celebration. Here are five fun and safe ways to celebrate the beginning of a new year during the pandemic.

1. Host a virtual New Year’s Eve party

Since 2020, Zoom has become a useful tool to chat with extended family and friends. It allows people to be together without being in the same room, and can connect everyone during the holiday season. This New Year’s Eve, if you want to spend time with those who are more vulnerable or at risk for the virus, consider throwing a virtual party over Zoom, Skype or FaceTime. You can play virtual games with each other, eat dinner together or simply chat and catch up with those you love as you count down to the new year.

2. Watch the New Year’s Eve TV specials

Each year, New Year’s Eve celebrations all over the world are broadcast online for everyone to watch. Even if you can’t travel or celebrate with a large group of people this year, tune in to various New Year’s Eve specials that will be on television. One of the most famed events is the Times Square ball drop in New York City, which will be streaming online or on various TV stations. To find where to watch the ball drop this New Year’s Eve, check out the Times Square website for more information. 

3. Put together a scrapbook

Was 2021 a memorable year for you? Did you graduate from school, go on a big trip with family or move to a new part of the country? No matter what happened this year, if it was meaningful, it deserves to be remembered. What better way to do that than with a scrapbook? If you don’t have any plans this New Year’s Eve, consider putting together a scrapbook to look back on 2021. Print off your favorite pictures, run to the store to get some supplies and create a personal, meaningful book that will help you remember this last year. If you don’t want to go out or don’t have time to, there’s websites that will help create an online scrapbook as well. 

4. Make a resolution time capsule

Write a letter to yourself in the future reflecting on 2021 or what you want to accomplish in 2022. What were some of the best times of the year? What do you want to change going into next year? Once you’re done writing, find an old box or jar to put the letter in and bury it somewhere in your yard to dig up at the end of the year. You can also get your whole family involved and write letters to each other to read at the end of 2022. If you don’t want to bury the letters, find somewhere safe in your house to keep them until it’s time to read them.

5. Have a movie marathon

Have you been wanting to watch a movie or TV show for the longest time and haven’t been able to find the time to do it? New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to start — or maybe finish — watching that movie or show you haven’t been able to get around to. Reflect on the last year by watching some of the most talked about movies or TV shows you can remember.

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