The winter holidays are wonderful occasions to catch up with family and friends, even more so in this pandemic year, when we have rarely been in physical contact with them.
The tradition of having family dinners and New Year’s Eve parties with friends has always existed. And for most people they are moments of joy, connection and relaxation. We exchange gifts and plans for the new year, share our experiences of the past year and dreams for the future.
We are social beings so we need these gatherings with the people we love.
And because between Christmas and New Year the children have holidays and many adults have days off work, it’s great to spend time catching up with family and friends.
When you go to visit, it’s a good idea to set a date and time in advance when you will be at the home of those who have invited you. Nowadays most people don’t appreciate surprise visits. So plan the meeting in advance, ask if you need to prepare something (maybe bring some food for the festive dinner) or if people prefer dry or sweet wines. It is advisable to respect the agreed arrival time and of course, don’t forget to leave. Especially if there are families with children who already have a routine they care about.
If you are going to visit family, whether parents or siblings, prepare yourself as if you were going to visit less close people.
That is, respect the arrival time. And because you know the family well, you can prepare a favourite cake or a cake. Of course any gift will be appreciated, especially by the children. See here for gift ideas for children and for adults you can opt for cosmetics (a face or hand cream for mum will always be a safe choice) or winter accessories such as gloves or scarves.
If you’re visiting friends with children, you’ll want to have at least one gift for the little ones.
For friends you can prepare symbolic gifts. To make the hosts’ “preparation” work easier, announce what you will bring to eat and drink, so that you share equally the responsibility for a pleasant meeting. You may choose to give the gift of a new board game to play together during your time together.
If instead you are hosting for your loved ones, choose to offer simple dishes that appeal to as many people as possible.
Think about their culinary preferences, not just what you like to eat. Don’t miss out on fruit and vegetables so that you can have salads on the holiday table. You don’t need to make a big effort, but you don’t need to be unprepared either. Take into account that on those days the shops are crowded, if it snows, going shopping is the last way to spend your time.
Plan ahead for these get-togethers with family and friends, and enjoy the winter holidays together! Given the pandemic situation in 2020, make sure you are healthy before coming into direct contact with other people.
