Regardless of where you are in the country, Memorial Day weekend is a harbinger of the new season. Summer may technically be 3 weeks away, but Memorial Day is the first hint of the warm breezes, barbecuing, and sunshine to come! Along with Labor Day, it’s a wonderful long weekend to celebrate the bookends of summer.
Of course, this Memorial Day 2020, things look a little different. We’re facing strange times, where traditions we previously took for granted might now be all but impossible - at least for a while. But the good news is, no matter how odd these times are, we can all still celebrate Memorial Day and all it represents so here's three things to remember.
- The meaning of Memorial Day has not changed. It still is, first and foremost, a day of remembrance, paying tribute to those who have lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. With so much of our regular lives on hold at the moment, take this opportunity to think about how you can pay tribute in your own way. Perhaps you can teach your kids what Memorial Day commemorates and when it began, giving them a brief but important history lesson before they dig into the potato salad and popsicles? Or maybe you want to have a video call with a friend or family member who is a veteran? Or even just a few moments of quite reflection to remember that Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer, and also so much more than that.
- Memorial Day is still a chance to soak in the outdoors! Perhaps you can’t have a big neighborhood BBQ or block party this year, but you can still enjoy these sunny, long days. If you have outdoor space, get out there and make the most of it! Go for a run, enjoy outdoor games like corn hole, have a backyard picnic, or set up the sprinklers with the kids. If you don’t have your own backyard, maybe you can enjoy a breezy lunch on your balcony or on a blanket in the grass at a local park. And if all else fails (or it rains cats and dogs), curl up next to a window. Getting fresh air does wonders for the mind and the body.
- Memorial Day has always been the 4th of July’s less-raucous cousin, and this year, that is likely to be truer than ever. Parades? Probably not. And while we can agree that it’s a shame not to able to enjoy those bigger, noisier traditions, we can also embrace the quiet. Why not give yourself permission to just enjoy a weekend of eating well, soaking in the sun, and doing whatever lazy old thing strikes your fancy? Spend the days outside and the evenings watching your favorite movies; try your hand at some new Memorial Day recipes or catch up via FaceTime with friends and relatives who are doing the same.
No matter what you do this Memorial Day, it will be one for the books. We guarantee it. So, breathe deep, open up the windows, and enjoy!
