The COVID Approach to Holiday Celebrations and Travel
The year 2020 is the 50th Anniversary of Fredericksburg, Virginia’s annual Candlelight Tour; however, it is the first Candlelight Tour available on ticket holders’ mobile devices. From December 1 through 31, people can walk or drive down Fredericksburg’s historic streets to visit more than 130 locations all decked out for the holidays. A COVID modification is that there will not be any tours inside of homes. The price of a ticket is good to use as often as desired throughout the entire month . Get the dettails.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a New York City tradition since 1924. I attended once in person. It was quite an exciting mob scene with more than three million people watching the parade pass us by which included about 8,000 participants dancing, singing, marching, and holding balloons. This 94th parade is only being televised and the balloons are tied to cars rather than people. Highlights will definitely be presentations from four currently closed Broadway shows and Santa Claus’ traditional wave at the end.
To protect against COVID, people are stuffing Christmas stockings from their homes to send to those serving in the military around the world. Turkey dinners are being collected and delivered. In Connecticut, electricity companies are working with consumers to leave all the lights on. Ireland is helping residents who need food and to stay in their homes.
Fund raisers for specific programs are online for the very first time. This is the 16th year of the annual fundraiser for the “Kids Help Phone” in Vancouver, BC, Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support to young people of all ages in English and French. When you donate you will get to view five beautiful virtual home tours at your leisure in the comfort of your own homeThe holiday shopping season is starting earlier than ever and Americans are expected to spend record dollars online.
Then there’s remote travel. It’s not exactly the same as boarding a plane and arriving not knowing the language, but it is often free or for a ticket around $5. What I like most about it is sharing the world with my granddaughters. Enjoy a safari from home to Tanzania or spot wildlife along the Serengeti or virtually climb Kilimanjaro.
Google’s Street View Collections offers panoramic views of famous landmarks and natural wonders. Google Earth has maps of the world and images from outer space. A very cool website with photos of cities around the world is 360gigapixels.com where you can actually zoom in to walk down streets and look into windows. COVID accommodations benefitting all of us to stay well, masked and six apart, and to help those around us, and perhaps far away, in need. Happy, healthy, loving, kind, wonderful holidays.
Sheryl Kayne is a writer, editor, educator, and motivational speaker. She is the author of travel guidebooks. Immersion Travel USA: The Best & Most Meaningful Volunteering, Living & Learning Excursions was awarded The Society of American Travel Writers Foundation’s Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award for Best Travel Guidebook 2009 and Volunteer Vacations Across America was named on Amazon’s list of best new travel books 2010.
Kayne travels extensively and works and volunteers where she visits. She was the writer-in-residence at the Everglades National Park, Homestead, Fla. and a writing fellow at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, N.M.
She has appeared on NPR, CNN, CBN, ABC Weekend Evening News, Lifetime Television Network, and MTV, among others.
Visit Sheryl at: www.sherylkayne.com/
Tonight is the first night of Chanukah. That is a holiday that many of your subscribers celebrate. I see no
mention of this holiday, in your article.
You are absolutely right, Judy. This article was written before the Thanksgiving Holiday in November. Tonight, December 10, 2020 is my wonderful sister-in-law, Cheri’s, birthday along with the first night of Chanukah. It is a wonderful time to celebrate, lighting a candle each night, saying the prayers in Hebrew and English, eating latkes, and giving back to make sure everyone everywhere has what they need to also celebrate. Thanks so much for your note today–it’s just right! Happy, healthy wonderful Chanukah to you and all of us who celebrate Chanukah/Hanukah, no matter it is spelled or pronounced! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KKNnECMKbg
Ruthie’s Favorite Latkes — For Chanukah and everyday, particularly fabulous with roasted brisket or smoked or kippured salmon!
A pound of potatoes, scrubbed, peeled, cut down for easy grating
1 large onion, peeled and cut into quarters
2 large eggs
About ½ cup matzah meal
Kosher salt to your liking
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Ruthie swore by Crisco Oil for the best latkes, I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Grate the potatoes and onion, drain off excess liquid, mix with eggs and enough matzah meal to hold it altogether, plus salt, pepper
Mix well and drop into hot oil with a large spoon, turn once until super crispy,
enjoy!
thank you for posting this recipe! I am going to try it.