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COVID Christmas at the Kirschners' story and photos by Emilie Kirschner '23

Cases of the new coronavirus variant Omicron have been at record high numbers all around the world this holiday season. Many families, including my own, were forced to cancel their winter vacations. Under the circumstances, my family threw together a last-minute Christmas.

My family's traditional holiday wreaths and doormat welcome you to the Kirschner household during the holidays.
Festive garland lights up the living room.
Lit garland on the mantel shines on Santa's sleigh full of ornaments.
Ornaments hung up on a bush instead of the traditional tree because my family had to buy a tree at the last minute.
Plastic snowflakes and a large wreath lights up my family's driveway.
In preparation for our favorite tradition, the Yule log, my family has everything we need: the family china, candles, holly, confectioners sugar for decoration, and the most important thing, wine.
One of my family's traditions that stem from our French ancestry, the Busch de Noël, or Yule log. It is a chocolate cake covered in chocolate frosting, and it's served on Christmas Eve.
The family stockings that we kept over the years were hung on the fireplace.
My family's small Christmas tree was decorated and lively on Christmas morning. Gifts sat under the tree.
Presents for everyone lay underneath my family's Christmas tree on Christmas morning.

A quickly planned Christmas was difficult, but being together with my family made this holiday one to remember.