It’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but this year it doesn’t really feel like it. With many of us hunkered down at home, some having lost jobs, others having lost friends and family members to COVID-19 or other illnesses, it’s tempting to give this holiday season a miss.
But it’s important to find joy and meaning in the midst of this dark winter — and carrying on with favorite holiday traditions can help. NPR checked in with medical researchers to figure out how risky our favorite customs are, and highlight ways we can all celebrate more safely.
“The holidays are just one more time that we have to reframe what we are doing,” says infectious disease specialist Dr. Preeti Malani, chief health officer at the University of Michigan. “What we do today can help us stay healthy so that we can celebrate fully next year and beyond.”
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