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PETALING JAYA: For many, this Christmas will be a less elaborate celebration, but no less joyous.
Instead of partying, many take the opportunity to spend more time with family and close friends to stay safe.
Content writer Elaine Lim looks forward to a more relaxing time. “We will have a little family reunion and I will spend a little time catching up with friends whom I haven’t seen in months,” he told the Sun.
However, it cannot be denied that the Covid-19 pandemic weighs heavily on Lim and others who observe Christmas.
“I used to go out to sing Christmas carols with friends before Christmas, but we haven’t been able to do it this year,” he said.
However, Lim and his friends were determined to follow this tradition, so they organized a virtual Christmas carol session that lasted 30 minutes each session, for three days.
“It’s not the same as being there with fellow Christmas carols. The smile and joy on people’s faces cannot be seen correctly on the screen, ”he pointed out.
Regardless, Lim is grateful that she can take the time to reflect on her life and the true meaning of the season.
“Christmas is about the love, joy, hope and peace that we share with each other, not all those materialistic gift exchanges where people try to compete with each other to buy better gifts,” he added.
Cassandra Daphne Mathews, a 20-year-old retail assistant, said she would attend mass virtually.
Despite the pandemic, she is grateful to be able to travel out of state to visit her extended family.
Student Serena Rekha, 22, said she had to stop singing Christmas carols and other church activities, something she has been doing for years.
“I usually go to Mass on Christmas Eve at 10pm, when the church was so crowded. However, this year’s service was brought forward at 6.30pm and only 30 people can join the service within the church.
While she regrets not being able to meet members of her extended family, she is still excited about celebrating Christmas.
In Sipitang, Sabah, 25-year-old HR operations assistant Chelsea Peter is looking forward to seeing her siblings again. “We haven’t seen each other since May,” he said.
However, you are also concerned that the weather could ruin your plans. Chelsea and her parents had placed Christmas decorations on November 8, but the floods on December 5 ruined it while they were shopping in Kota Kinabalu.
She even has a video of herself dancing in her flooded living room on her TikTok account.
However, hope for the best.
“We are all grateful to be able to have a family reunion during this period,” he added.
Chelsea said that she and her siblings will also celebrate their parents’ wedding anniversary, which was celebrated on August 28.
“We will wear new clothes, eat cookies and see all our cousins,” he added.
For those who hope for the best instead of expecting the worst, rain, shine, or stench, Christmas is still a time to celebrate.
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