5 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays with The New York Times | News Today

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year.

The Learning Network will be on hiatus from December 23, 2021 to January 3, 2022, but, as we head into a second pandemic winter, we bring you both 2021-specific ideas for celebrating or reinventing the holidays, as well as joys. timeless like gingerbread houses, festive playlists, ugly sweaters and spectacular New Years celebrations.

Below are some recent Times articles, interactive features, and writing exercises to help you celebrate the season, reflect on the past year, and look forward to the year to come.

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1. Ask yourself about 2021.

What familiar face helped his team win this year’s Super Bowl? What film did Chloe Zhao make, becoming the first woman of color to win the Oscar for best director? America’s longest war ended this year; where was he fought? Which comedian released a controversial comedy special on Netflix?

Find out how you can get the right answers by taking our 2021 special news quiz.

2. Think about the year that was.

As 2021 draws to a close, these writing prompts invite you to say we what you will remember from that time:

• Take a look at the year in pictures. What images have marked you? Why? Then, as our related lesson plan suggests, create a year in pictures for your own life. What would you understand? Why?

• Check out the New York Times’ review lists of the best movies, TV shows, actors, songs, albums, podcasts, recipes, dance, theater, art, books, and graphic novels. Next, let us know: What were the best (and worst) things about 2021 for you?

• Oxford Dictionaries chose “vax” as the word of the year. Merriam-Webster chose the “vaccine”. What would you name as Word of the Year, and why? You can also go back to the year in emojis and tell us which one you use the most this year.

• In a year with so many challenges, it can be helpful to look back and appreciate the good. What was the best day of 2021 for you?

3. Tell us what you think of the holidays.

Discuss or write about your experiences – good or bad – by answering these seasonal questions we’ve asked students over the years:

4. Write a short story or seasonal poem.

Use your imagination to write a short story, poem or memoir inspired by these winter and vacation themed images from our Picture Prompt column:

5. Find out what else the Times has to offer.

These articles are just a taste of the vacation-related articles The Times has published this year and in previous years. Here are some other activities to keep you busy this season:

• Find out how some people have been liberated by the loss of holiday traditions over the past couple of years and have been inspired to forge new celebrations – or ignore them altogether. What new traditions would you like to start this year?

• In the spirit of giving, find a cause close to your heart and find out how you can donate to it with the Holiday Gift Guide in the Opinion section.

• Dream of faraway places as you visit the 52 places that readers say comforted them during a dark year. What places have you found comforting?

• Enjoy some holiday crossword.

• Try cooking a new food, like those holiday cookies, those classic potato latkes, a crispy roast duck, or a doro wat, a traditional Hanukkah dish for Ethiopian Jews. For more ideas, check out The New York Times’ Complete Kitchen Collections for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

• Practice self-care. Here are tips for getting through another pandemic-altered holiday season safely and healthily, dealing with difficult parents, dealing with loss or loneliness, calming your mind, and having a stress-free holiday season.

• Learn the history of New Years Eve in Times Square, then browse the January 1, 1905 issue of the New York Times for more about the fireworks at the Times Building that year, or the December 31, 1907 issue to learn more about the first ball drop.

• If you believe in the power of New Year’s resolutions, learn a few ways to keep them. You can also decide to have a healthier tech life or take our solving quiz to test your vocabulary and glean even more tips.

• Expect events that will “shake or gently rock the world” in 2022, such as the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, India, the Winter Olympics in Beijing and the inaugural Tour de France Women. Or immerse yourself in this series of essays on what this year’s critical moments could mean for the year ahead. Then make your own predictions for next year.