This year more than ever, the festive season needs to deliver joy to everyone. The promise of a Merry Christmas is one that we repeat year after year without giving it much thought. However, after an encounter with a global pandemic, we’re finally ready to give weight to our Christmas greetings. 

Merry Christmas to all!

But where do you find merry when the holiday season is all about togetherness? Merry seems like an impossible dream when households can barely mix indoors. That’s probably why Christmas entertainment takes a new meaning this year. Entertainment is not the art of combating boredom. On the contrary, it is a delicate balance of fun and feel-good activities that brings us together. Christmas entertainment is designed to make us forget about the stress of the year. While year after year, seasonal entertainment is taken for granted, this year is different. For all those who need to relax at Christmas, the season is rich in safe entertainment options. 

Unsplash – CC0 Licence 

There’s always a big feel-good movie 

Christmas films occupy a particular marketing niche. They need to be family-friendly, packed with feel-good actions, and somehow creative enough to justify going to the cinema. In the previous years, the relaunched Jumanji with the Rock and Jack Black has managed to attract viewers of all ages. The Star Wars franchise is also a much expected Christmas release every few years. There’s nothing that stops families enjoying their favourite Christmas films this December. In fact, if you check the latest Netflix releases for December, it makes no doubt that the season is going to be entertaining, even if you stay at home. Cinemas are partially reopening in tiers one and two in the UK, and bringing some live-action to the big screen too. However, health-conscious individuals can enjoy a similar experience in the safety of their living room, as Amazon Prime and Netflix have a huge list of Christmas classics and new films. 

Playing games with the family

Nothing says togetherness as much as taking your childhood’s board game and playing at home. Classic games are a favourite at Christmas, as families can relax and enjoy the holiday. Admittedly, there’s no denying that some games should be avoided – Monopoly, for instance, is prone to rise conflicts. But, ultimately, playing together is key to relaxing and letting go of the stress accumulated over the year. Puzzle enthusiasts will appreciate sharing a murder mystery game with the family, while those who need quirky gameplay will love Pub Quiz – a board game that feels just like the real thing – or the Unstable Unicorns card game. 

Baking together

Cooking or baking is typically a solitary hobby. One person bakes to share with others. But, at Christmas, most of the Christmas bakes are a platform for cooperation. Classic mince pies can turn into a teamwork activity where one person prepares the dough, while another one fills the pies. If you’re feeling creative, you can even ask the most talented person in the room to decorate the pie top. Christmas biscuits may seem like a simple recipe, but you can spend many hours carefully turning a piece of baked pastry into a work of art. 

Entertainment is often misunderstood as the art of cancelling boredom. But, this year, Christmas entertainment offers some much-needed breathing room after a chaotic and stressful time. It’s a time to disconnect the mind and reach out to each other.