Thanksgiving 2020

Ally Samuels/The Riverdale Review

Thanksgiving, much like other holidays this season, will look differently due to the pandemic. To many, Thanksgiving evokes memories of watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and football on television while eating delicious food and being surrounded by loved ones. While some of these activities are no longer feasible this year, there are many other ways to celebrate. Here are some ways that we can celebrate in fun and safe ways this year.

Living in or near New York City gives us the opportunity to take advantage of its plethora of resources, specifically the beautiful parks. If you are looking to have a small in-person outdoor gathering, The Great Lawn, Sheep’s Meadow, or any of the other various picnic spots in Central Park have outdoor spaces to have a socially distanced meal. Other ways to spend some refreshing time outside include playing sports in the park, taking a walk around the reservoir, or biking with friends and family. Take the time to bundle up and enjoy the brisk outdoors.

While it feels like many of us have gotten to know Zoom all too well in these past few months, it does not always have to be associated with headache-inducing screen time. Zoom can also be used as a tool to maintain relationships with friends and family. In order to still spend time with relatives, you can prepare your favorite foods at home with your immediate family and then hop on a Zoom call to see other faces and enjoy conversations over delicious food in the safety of your own home.

And just because there is a pandemic does not mean you cannot express gratitude and give back to your communities, even if they look  different than previous years. If you don’t feel like looking at your computer and Zooming during Thanksgiving, try handwriting letters or decorating cards and mail them to relatives, friends, or teachers to express your gratitude for all they have done. If you are able, you can also donate foods to various food banks around the city to help families who may not have the resources to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. Finally, you can cook some of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes and drop them off at a neighbor’s or a family member’s house to maintain a sense of community, while still following social distance policies. 

While this is not the Thanksgiving that anyone expected, it is still one to be excited about. This time of year can be stressful with the second quarter in full swing and the weather finally taking a turn to the colder side, but Thanksgiving allows us to take a break and spend time with family, whether it be virtually or in-person. Even though Thanksgiving will look different this year, there are still a multitude of ways to make it a memorable holiday. And here’s a pro-tip: if your relatives do start a Thanksgiving Day argument, you can always hit the mute button on Zoom!