Easter Celebrations During a Pandemic

By: Maria Garcia Manzano

This year Easter will look a little different. With the current public health guidelines set to expire on March, 25th revision is underway. However, we can expect household gathering rules to remain. The only visible change done to the guidelines may be about theaters and casinos opening at a limited capacity. As a result, Easter will be different, and celebrations may be limited to within your household and designated visitors, but this does not mean you and your loved ones cannot still enjoy the holiday. Here are six different ideas you can do with your household and designated visitors.

Rethink Easter baskets and gifts.
The pandemic has taken a financial toll on everyone, and perhaps this year, giving out overflowing waster baskets may not be possible. So instead of filling it up with store-bought treats, pull out a cupcake, muffin, or cookie recipe and fill them with homemade sweets.
Order in for Easter lunch or dinner.
Pre-pandemic Easter lunch and dinner usually took place at a family member's house, and everybody arrived and celebrated together. This cannot be the case this year, and instead of worrying about what to cook and stressing out, order takeout. Support local businesses and call around to see which restaurants are open on Easter Sunday and if they are offering takeout services. Brandon has a variety of delicious restaurants.
Focus on small-scale Easter games.
A bunny hop race or Easter egg toss may not be possible this year if you don't have the supplies, numbers, or space (or all three). Focus on games—beyond the egg hunt—your household can play together, such as guess the number of jelly beans or Easter egg basketball, even if there are only two of you in the house. Furthermore, you can also bring out your board games and enjoy some friendly competition.
Have a Picnic!
This last week, the weather has been beautiful, and if you don't want to stay cooped up at home, and weather permitting, go out and have a picnic. The Discovery Centre is one of my favorite places to go for picnics. Pack up some sandwiches or pick up some subway and head down with a picnic blanket, some snacks, and enjoy yourself.
Small egg hunts are the way to go.
Whether you have children in your household or only university students, the idea of looking for chocolate treats is appealing. Therefore, whether you live in a house or an apartment, buy some chocolate treats from Dollarama and hide them. Get another person to hide some goodies for you and then have a race to see who finds the most chocolate.
Adjust your expectations for Church services.
If your Easter celebration includes a religious component, it may be different from prior years. There are limits on gatherings, and many congregations have adopted their restrictions to keep their members safe. If your church does hold a service, consider if attending is the safest option for you and your family (and others attending). You can stay connected with your church on Easter by checking to see if it's hosting a digital service: Many religious organizations have been offering online services, so do a little research online to find one you can stream.