Winter Break: 2020 Edition
Some tell-tale signs that the holidays have arrived are the pillowy piles of snow that rest on pine needles, the shards of icicles decorating the roof, and the corny light-up figurines smiling from your neighbor’s yard. But this year, the spirit has dampened.
Winter break is the first real rest from the school year. Before 2020, the last day before winter break would have been filled with unguarded joy and impatience. Students would race back home from school, fling their backpacks down, and flop onto the couch in a state of utter euphoria. The sensation has certainly been diminished this school year, especially for remote students. The ceremonial rite of passage into vacation mode consists of logging out of Zoom, closing the computer, and sighing in relief… certainly not as exciting as streaming out of the high school with a thousand other students to anticipated family gatherings, celebrations, and much-needed sleep.
The pandemic has prompted us to take unprecedented, though necessary, precautions such as mask-wearing and social distancing. The effects of the latter left us craving warm hugs from family and friends. These feelings heightened during winter break because the holidays are normally filled with large gatherings of loved ones. Many students, myself included, have not seen their extended family in months. Winter break is just not the same without being together.
In addition, since traveling is strongly discouraged, we have no escape from the chilling New England winter. As if this year hasn’t been untraditional enough, it snowed up until Christmas Eve; on the actual day, the weather was humid and sunny. However, heavy snowfall still reaps its benefits; after much debate, Lexington High School decided to keep its snow day policy. We may continue to obsessively check the Snow Day Calculator!
New Year’s Eve and the end of 2020 was filled with far less joy than other New Year’s celebrations. In the past, a new year meant a fresh beginning. However, not much can change from 2020 to 2021. It was impossible to expect that the global pandemic would disappear, citizens would be employed again, and the world would go back to normal when the clock struck midnight. Transitioning into 2021, we were prepared for and accustomed to struggles we knew we’d need to face.
Although there are many aspects of winter break missing this year, new traditions have arisen. Some activities that I have explored during the pandemic are Netflix Partying with friends, taking walks in the fresh winter air, and making bread. A hiatus from the normal bustle of the holidays has left students with ample time to explore new hobbies and activities. Additionally, spending so much time with members at home can increase bonding time and relationships. It was a different sort of winter break, but still one to remember.
by SRIJA GHOSH