by Christiane Salamat

With COVID-19 cases surging throughout the country, it’s become more and more imperative that we stay vigilant about social distancing and quarantining. In a year that’s been marked by loss, grief, and anomaly, many of us were probably looking forward to the warmth and familiarity that usually comes with the holiday season.

We might not be able to meet up with our loved ones in person, but we can take this as the opportunity to get creative with our digital get-togethers (how very Y2K of us!). Here are a few suggestions for holiday hangouts, sans COVID.

NICHE POWERPOINT PARTY

Usually at a party, it’s up to the host to do all the entertaining. Enter: the Powerpoint party. At one of parties, each guest presents a Powerpoint slideshow of their own creation over a Zoom call. Topics can range anywhere from informative (How to style thigh-highs) to argumentative (Rory Gilmore’s boyfriends, ranked), to deeply niche (Pasta shapes ranked based on how they feel in your mouth).

TWILIGHT VIEWING PARTY

Technically, the advent of Netflix Party and other synchronized streaming services allows you to watch any movie of your choosing – feel free to do that, too. But with all the uncertainty in the world, it just feels right to dig your toes into something comfortable. With the Twilight Renaissance in full swing, it’s about time for a Twilight Saga movie marathon. You’ll find that there is something strangely comforting about debating the age-old question of Edward vs. Jacob.

GIRLS NIGHT IN

Scheduling a regular virtual night in with your circle is one of the simplest ways you can stay connected throughout quarantine. Sometimes a bare-bones Zoom call with your friends is just what you need: a few hours to catch up on everyone’s life developments, discuss all the media you’ve consumed since the last time you talked, and see everyone’s little mannerisms through the screen. You can also practice your bartending skills by turning this into a cocktail hour!

PSYCHIC READING PARTY

If you’ve felt anxiety about the future in this time of great confusion, welcome to the ever-expanding club. In fact, you can band up a group of your most confused-about-the-state-of-the-world friends and hold a psychic reading party! Plenty of fortune tellers are offering virtual readings over Zoom and can be hired for parties. From tarot cards to palm readings, psychics like Sherrie Lynne, whose clientele ranges to everyone from Teen Vogue to Patek Philippe, can ease a bit of the unpredictability hanging over everyone’s heads.