Tags
2020, Christmas, Christmas tree, COVID, COVID-19, DIY, Toilet paper
So, Christmas looks a little different this year in 2020.
This is my attempt at capturing absurdity of this memorable year in the form of a Christmas tree (referencing the panic buying and shortage of toilet paper at the beginning of the pandemic).
Currently, in Canada and in many parts of the world, COVID-19 has resulted in strict restrictions on social gatherings, limits on non-essential travels, and shut down of many non-essential services. Christmas will undoubtedly look and feel different this year. With the absence of the usual festivities and gatherings, Christmas this year will probably unsettle us with its absence of face to face social connections and challenges of social isolation.
The humor behind the creation of this tree notwithstanding, let’s make room to process, and even grieve, the sense of loss of social connection this Christmas season, while reaching out to those around us as best as we can.
Let’s make room, as well, to still allow the true hope of Christmas to shine through.
Perhaps, in our unmet expectations and discomfort with change this year, we can better grasp how the birth of Jesus shattered expectations and challenged comforts in so many ways that first Christmas.
Perhaps, in our yearning towards the end of social distancing, we can rejoice more gratefully in the God who ended social distancing with us once and for all that first Christmas- by coming near in His Son Jesus.
Merry Christmas and take care this season.
Betty
Soli Deo Gloria
Instructions are below if you have some extra toilet paper around the house (I bet most of us have stocked up now!) and want to make a DIY Christmas tree, 2020 Covid Style.
Materials Needed
- 14 rolls of toilet paper
- Mini-Christmas ornaments of your choice
- Large Christmas bulb or star
- Nativity set of your choice
- Mini-present(s)
Directions & Tips
- Place 4 rolls of toilet paper side-by-side, with 1-2 cm gaps in between as the first layer for the tree. Then place another 4 rolls on top, with no gaps in between. Continue making more layers with 3 rolls, 2 rolls, then 1 roll at the top.
- Decorate your tree with mini Christmas ornaments of your choice. The sides of the tree has nice ledges for placing small ornaments. Tip: to avoid using tape and damaging the precious toilet paper, the strings of hanging ornaments can easily be tucked in-between the stacked toilet paper rolls. The weight of the toilet paper rolls will keep most light ornaments from falling down.
- Top the tree with a large Christmas bulb or star.
- Place nativity scene and mini-presents in front of the tree.