HALIFAX -- Throughout the Maritimes and around the world, people have been forced to change their holiday plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As case numbers continue to climb in many parts of the world, Maritimers living abroad are adjusting and finding ways to make the best of a Christmas season unlike any other.
“Usually we got to a Christmas light show, and get together with the family,” says Ann Whytewood, a Pictou County, N.S. native living in Wendover, U.K. “We go for long walks, and have mulled wine and mince pies at Christmas fairs, but none of that is happening this year.”
Whytewood is originally from Stellarton, N.S., but lives just outside of London, England. Her county is in a ‘Tier Four’ zone because of the pandemic, meaning you can’t leave or be outside your home without a reasonable excuse.
“There’s not many people in the streets, there’s no cars on the roads, everyone is quite frightened this time around,” says Whytewood. “The TV isn’t that positive about this new strain that’s around, so I think everyone is taking it quite seriously.”
Many families around the world will be reuniting virtually over FaceTime or Zoom calls this holiday season.
In the Netherlands, the Salib-Huber family is sending well-wishes to their family in Halifax and Dartmouth.
“We were planning on going on lots of trips, and our grandparents were hoping to come here but they can’t. It’s definitely impactful, we had planned on a trip home to Canada, but it didn’t work out unfortunately, so we’re going to make sure we have extra time for FaceTime.”
In the United States, Halifax native Tina Schettino-Irish is spreading Christmas cheer to her family and friends, with a little help from her late mother’s holiday traditions.
“We made all my mom’s recipes. She passed away last year,” says Schettino-Irish from her home in Wilmington, N.C. “Carson, my youngest, wants to be a baker or chef when he gets older. He’s broken out the old recipe book and has made shortbreads and squares to represent all of our Nova Scotia recipes.”
The North Carolina family has many traditions, and while some, such as their Christmas sweater collection, will continue this year, others are postponed, like visiting Tina’s father in Springhill, N.S.
“I miss you so much,” says Tina to her father. “I’m coming home in the New Year, as soon as they open the border, and if not, I’m flying you all to Orlando to meet me, and we’re going to have a big Disney celebration!”
Sending love and warm holiday wishes to family and friends miles away, with the hope that we’ll all be able to celebrate together again next Christmas.
