Christmas is not cancelled. Any time of the year when biscuits come in really big tins cannot be legally cancelled.
Besides, we love the holiday season and need it more than ever this year. Yes, it can be cliched and commercialised, but it’s about joy and family and crazy traditions that we get away with as they are ratified as ‘festive’. So get your fairy lights out, pull on that god-awful reindeer knitwear and fill your home with the scent of cinnamon, satsumas and seasonal spices.
In the words of Judy Garland, you’re going to Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas this year. But a smaller celebration has certain advantages. Smaller is cosier, more personal and less work for mum or whoever orchestrates the whole shabang for you.
Smaller also means we will all have more time for those nearest to us, which can’t be a bad thing. And please don’t give them masks and hand gel, give them something bubbling with nostalgia or full of curiosity and wonder to transport them away from it all. We have a few ideas for you if you’re in need of inspiration.
For your wider circle of family and friends, whom you usually see at this time of the year, it’s going to be really tough not having them around to drink all your booze or empty or fridge, so we’ve designed 3 fun ways to spread your Christmas cheer using our free video celebration generator.
1. Santa Claus is comin’ to town
Like never before.
Whether you’re a fan of The Bublé or The Boss, we’ve dug out the very best versions of Santa Claus is comin’ to town
The foot-tappin’ classic version – The Four Seasons
The Marvelous Motown version – Jackson 5
The jazzy version – Jessie James
The bubbly version – Michael Bublé
The rockin’ version – Bruce Springsteen
How to spread the cheer:
- Create a Christmas Cheer video celebration here
- Dress up like elves, Elvis or wear a hat full of fairy lights, whatever takes your fancy.
- Then record yourselves singing the first verse ONLY. You can lip-synch if you’re tone-deaf like me. And remember, it’s a time of the year when Bailey’s is a substitute for milk, and alcohol can be drunk hot – yes steaming! So go ahead and loosen up if necessary.
- Then send the video link to a friend or family member to record themselves singing the second verse. Pick someone who’s going to really get into it…in my case that would be Uncle Martin.
- When they’ve uploaded their verse they share the link with the next person to sing the 3rd verse until the song is complete.
- Then share the link of the finished song with everyone you know to spread the cheer. You can always upload an extra video at the end with your Christmas message to one and all. No need to sing that one, unless of course you’ve had Baileys with your morning cereal and insist.
Here are the lyrics
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
2. He's making a list
He's checking it twice
He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
3. He sees you when you're sleeping
And he knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
4. You better watch out!
You better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
'Cause Santa Claus is coming to town
Oh let's go!
5. He sees you when you're sleeping
And he knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
2. Create a Christmasy round-robin video
A round-robin is a family newsletter written during the holidays and sent to family and friends. This is the video version! To keep things upbeat, see if you can do it without mentioning that virus!
How to spread the cheer:
- Create a Holiday video celebration here and talk about 3 good things that happened to you this year. If you’ve got kids then get them involved. If you’ve got a pet, get them to do a cameo appearance – as it’s Christmas, it’s okay to put a little Santa hat on the hamster. Make it fun and keep it short.
- Then share the video link with a friend or family member asking them to do the same.
- Once they’ve recorded their news they go on to share the link with the next family member.
- And so on. After a week of recording, everyone will have a family and friends video keepsake packed with positivity that will shine a great beam of happiness on 2020.
3. Create a ‘You’re a legend because’ holiday message
Send a wonderful wave of thanks around the world by telling someone why you appreciate them so much. From this festive seed of gratitude, great things can grow…
How to spread the cheer:
- Create a Christmas Cheer video celebration here and record a short message for someone by saying ‘Happy Christmas (Uncle Martin), you’re a legend because (you float like a butterfly and snore like a train) ….’ Make it heartfelt or humorous, or both.
- The person you send it to then records their message for someone else (not you) whom they want to thank.
- And so on. See how far your legendary holiday message can travel. Let us know if you hit 50 people or 5 continents!
We know many will be alone this holiday season and hope that these video ideas will bring some smiles and laughter to them. Of course, you could also create a video celebration just for them.
In addition, If they have a lavatorial sense of humour and enjoy carols, you could also send this little festive gem to them … you’ve been warned
I love to hear how you get on and I’m sure we can dig out some free personalised books and maps for those who had the most fun or sent the biggest wave of seasonal cheer around the world.
Put the chestnuts on the wood stove, throw some tinsel about, here’s to the cosiest Christmas ever.
