Here's how Utahns changed up their Christmas plans amid COVID-19

SALT LAKE CITY — The coronavirus pandemic has forced many worldwide to rethink traditions and find creative ways to stay connected — especially during the holiday season.

KSL.com asked readers to share their pandemic Christmas stories with us. Here's how Utahns adjusted their celebrations amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Christmas in a garage ... and a parking lot

Jann Barrios, of Salt Lake City, decided to host a gift exchange on Christmas Eve in a well-ventilated garage and with limited guests.

Each of her children and their families attended one at a time to avoid large gatherings.

"I have many medical professionals in my family and we are all being very careful about COVID," she wrote. "It's the season for being flexible."

Marti Thompson, of Salem, decided to take the celebrations outside to allow for better ventilation — in 30-degree weather, no less. The family opened presents in the IKEA parking lot with grandparents.

Locked down for Christmas

Others who are at a higher risk for developing COVID-19 health complications have decided to lock down even on the holiday.

Linda Lundberg, who lives in Cache Valley, is considered high risk and has been very careful ever since cases started appearing in the area.

"We are staying home and no one is coming over," she explained. She will still make a Christmas dinner for those living in her household and she is planning on delivering some food to some nearby family members — all socially distanced.

Touched by sickness

Mariana P., of North Ogden, moved to the state 20 years ago with her family. In a typical year, they would get together and eat traditional Venezuelan food.

But after both of her parents contracted COVID-19, with her father recently spending time on a ventilator in the intensive care unit, her family has made some changes to tradition.

"Christmas is very different this year, but I'm grateful for my parent's lives, specifically my dad's who survived this devastating virus when many others didn't," Mariana wrote. "I'm also grateful for the nurses, doctors, aids, and everyone at the hospitals who continue to work no matter what."

While some have recovered from the virus, others have suffered a great loss.

"Both of my sweet parents died of COVID," wrote Cynthia Johnson, of Spanish Fork. "That pretty much tells you what our Christmas is going to be like."

For those who are sick with COVID-19 and under quarantine, their Christmas plans have changed quite a bit.

A. Martin, of Cedar Valley, and his wife both contracted COVID-19 the week of Christmas.

"It'll just be the two of us and the dogs for Christmas Eve and Day celebrations unfortunately," Martin wrote.

Staying connected online

Others have turned to technology to connect with family safely.

Robert Reed, of Sandy, said his family hosted a virtual family program on Christmas Eve complete with carling with their grandchildren.

On Christmas Day, they opened gifts virtually and a family member picked up food from their house for a virtual brunch.

The pandemic has forced Utahns to come up with creative solutions to still enjoy the holidays even as the novel coronavirus forces distance.

Yearslong traditions canceled

For Karel McDonough's family, that meant changing a 125-year-old Christmas tradition of a family reunion of sorts every Christmas Eve.

The tradition began when McDonough's ancestor arrived in Utah as a handcart pioneer from Denmark.

This year, instead of a large gathering, the family stayed with their in-household loved ones and books forward to rekindling the celebration next year.

Jordan Mendoza's family also decided to postpone a 15-year-old tradition of having Christmas breakfast with extended family.

"Very sad, but better than the chance of anyone getting sick," Mendoza wrote. "Even though it's different, we will still make it great."

In all, most people are looking forward to a hopefully better Christmas season next year — free from a global pandemic.

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