The covid pandemic and restrictions force families to change the long-standing custom of getting together to celebrate the Christmas holidays. Most people plan not to leave the house, to avoid risk situations that can lead to contagion to grandparents, who are usually the most vulnerable, or as prevention within family units. Other children choose to meet with their parents on different dates, so that they are accompanied on such special days. But there are also families that used to take advantage of vacations to travel and are now staying at home. In short, the Christmas of the covid will be different in all homes.
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Maria José Vivero: «We will divide ourselves to be with my parents
Until now, María José Vivero and her husband, Luis Hermida, with their children Lucía and Miguel, have always celebrated Christmas with their families. The day she played at her parents’ house, 12 people gathered, but in Luis’s family there are 28, so they used to meet in groups on the appointed dates and organize a meal for everyone on another day. But this year, María José says that everything is going to be “a pure improvisation”, because the parents of both are people at high risk. “My mother told us that the brothers and sisters get together, but we cannot leave them alone those days, so we will divide ourselves to be with my parents.”
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JOSE PARDO
Mar Dorrio: «In our family unit we are already 14»
In the home of Mar Dorrio and Javier Cuadrado, the term agglomeration that is so much to be avoided now, is a constant of the day to day. The couple has 12 children, two of whom are studying at the universities of Valencia and Santiago, but who will return home for Christmas. “In our family unit there are already 14 of us and we are waiting for it to be confirmed if my parents can join, so that they are not alone,” says Mar. Other years up to 26 people met, because his sister, who has four children and two foster children, and a friend. “We were not comfortable sitting and the dishes were not perfect, but we all enjoyed a lot together,” he adds.
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Nati Pita: «We will be alone, because our twins are at risk»
Christmas this year will be at home and alone at the home of Nati Pita and Pablo Foira. “We will celebrate it alone, because our twins are high risk,” says the mother. Nico and Lucas were born at 26 weeks gestation and have severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. “It is the only sequel they have and they lead a normal life, so there is little protection with the covid,” says Nati, adding. «We have to protect ourselves and those around us, so this year we will not go to my parents ‘or my in-laws’ houses as we have done now. We will make use of video calls and I hope that next year we can all be together to celebrate it, “he adds.
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Cecilia Vigo: “We always traveled, this year we stayed”
For André, 9 years old, son of Cecilia Vigo and Fernando García, it will be his first Christmas at home and he is very excited to celebrate it in Ferrol, which is why he worked hard to decorate it. “We always traveled on these dates, almost always to the Canary Islands, but this year it’s time to spend them at home”, Cecilia points out. At the end of the year, the whole family met at the home of Fernando’s mother -about 15 people-, in San Sadurniño, but this time they have planned “Get together in the afternoon, outdoors, to at least see us up close, with protection and distance», Indicates Cecilia, adding, “If you can”, alluding to the perimeter closure of Ferrol.
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Nuria Bernardo: “I’ll try to think it’s another day”
Nuria Bernardo is convincing herself that this year there will be no Christmas Eve. “I’ll try to think it’s another day”, manifests with «Sadness», Because his two daughters, Ainara and Leire, will spend those days with their father – they have been divorced for three years – and the New Year’s Eve will be able to celebrate the three of them at their home in Ortigueira. Until this year, he celebrated Christmas at his cousin’s house, in Narón, where 13 people gathered. His brother, Alfonso, lives in Segovia and also used to come around this time. This year she asked him to move, «but I can’t go, neither side nor side, because my brother is a high-risk person, I work in a pharmacy and my daughters go to school».
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Laura Piñeiro: «Most likely only those at home»
At Laura Piñeiro’s house, Fran Castro and her son Dani are still not sure how they are going to celebrate these atypical parties. They used to spend Christmas Eve with Fran’s parents and Christmas with Laura’s, and this year they could do it again, because there would be eight and five people in each celebration, “but most likely we will spend them alone,” says Laura, because her parents are risky people, although Dani is looking forward to being with her grandparents. And he explains, “if we go to one house one day and the next to the next, it is as if we were all together,” so they also consider the possibility of going to one house on Christmas Eve and the other for Kings.
