Is Valentine’s day cancelled this year?? Celebrating Valentine’s Day during a global pandemic

Valentine’s day is this weekend!! 

Can you believe it?? 

Except … it doesn’t feel like there will be much to celebrate does it? This time last year, COVID-19 was a distant worry for most people, but now it is so ingrained in everyday life, I struggle to remember how it felt to leave the house without a mask and a litre of hand sanitiser. 

It’s safe to say that Valentine’s day certainly won’t be its normal celebration this year. With all the restrictions in place and various lockdowns around the world, it has become so much harder to enjoy these special days with the people we care about, and I know that for many, your typical Valentine’s day plans might seem more like a fantasy than reality this year. 

My boyfriend and I weren’t sure how we would celebrate this year. Thankfully, we do get to see each other on Valentine’s day, which is really fantastic because if things had gone according to plan, I would be back in the UK so plus one for not having to celebrate long distance this year. However, the restrictions in place mean that all the typical ways to enjoy it aren’t exactly on the table either so we have been puzzling about what to do. Also, celebrating at either of our houses isn’t exactly an easy option because we both have big families so it’s either a night of almost no privacy or we just celebrate as a family. Romantic hey? 

Anywho, so all of this pondering about how on earth to celebrate Valentine’s day gave me the perfect inspiration for this post! Valentine’s day doesn’t have to be cancelled this year – all it takes is thinking a little creatively and swallowing the annoyance of yet another holiday possibly transforming into a virtual event… 

Movie marathon 

These might be getting boring by now, but themed movie marathons are definitely an easy and fun way to celebrate Valentine’s day, whether you’re able to celebrate it with your significant other, doing it with your girlfriends, via Zoom or just a peaceful night for yourself with a big box of chocolate. This day is about spending time together and doing something you love, so if the two of you adore movies, then this might be the perfect solution. Offer to watch your partner’s favourite movies (even if they might be at the very bottom of your to-watch list) or maybe pick some movies you’ve been meaning to watch together? 

Plus, there’s nothing more romantic than curling up together under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and some movie snacks and enjoying a few hours of movie cuddling with your partner. If you’re not celebrating with a romantic partner, there’s still nothing wrong with a movie marathon. I’ve had plenty by myself (and in all honesty, those can sometimes be the most fun) or you could call up your friends and have a Netflix party. Tech is, thankfully, on your side for this one. 

Turn dinner (or any meal) into an event

We all have to eat right? And the cliched Valentine’s day celebration is a romantic meal together. So why not use that to your advantage? You may not be able to go out for dinner, but why not turn it into a fun thing to do with your partner? 

My boyfriend and I love cooking together, and sometimes just for fun, we’ll test out a dessert recipe when we’re feeling like something extra sweet. Why not do that? Choose a meal that you both love and cook it together. And if you aren’t big on cooking, well then that sometimes makes it even more fun because you’re figuring it out together! You could make breakfast together (a waffle bar is always a fantastic option), or your very own romantic dinner complete with candles and some wine. Or, if you feel like going the extra mile, you could cook for your partner? Maybe breakfast in bed or a meal you know they adore if you think they might want a break from cooking. It’s up to you, and the best part about this option is you can truly make it precisely what you want. 

Yank out some board games

Sometimes there’s nothing more fun than reconnecting with some childhood fun and playing board games together. In fact, this is one of my very favourite date night ideas, and it is perfect for COVID because you don’t need to leave the house. You can put on your PJs, order some takeouts and enjoy an evening’s worth of games. It’s a great way to laugh together, things could get competitive, or you could turn it into a group event (double dates, a girls night, friends celebrating or even with your family). Just be sure not to let things get too out of hand – I mean my whole family playing together could easily result in bloodshed with everyone being so competitive so don’t forget to take things like that into account. 

If you don’t have any board games lying around, or card games, why not play video games? It could be a really fun bonding activity for your partner to teach you how to play their favourite game, or for you to figure out a game together. I know my boyfriend laughed so hard watching me try to play Call of Duty without my glasses (that did not work well …) so who knows? That could become a regular date night for you two? 

Make takeouts from scratch.

I know I could have put this one under the other cooking option, but it just sounded so fun and interesting I had to give it it’s own little section. Takeaway food is fantastic – good old comfort foods like pizza, or Chinese or whatever you usually order, plus with the added benefit of having to put in minimal effort. Literally, all you have to do is order, pay and pick it up at your door – which could involve as little movement as walking a few feet. However, making your own takeouts just seems like such a fun date idea to try with your partner. There are plenty of easy recipes to get online, you can make it a fun bonding experience for the two of you, and even if it doesn’t turn out as well as you’d hope, you can always get takeouts after, and you’ll appreciate it that much more! 

Join an online class

Last but not least, is there something you’ve always wanted to do as a couple but just haven’t had the time, or haven’t found the right class? Well, I know that a pandemic is not necessarily the right time to be trying new things, but the online world has truly opened up and what I’ve found is that there are actually so many more opportunities to try and learn things online BECAUSE of covid. Why not explore trying out an online class in something you both enjoy? A cooking class, or maybe a masterclass? Or, you could even make it an active date night and do a fitness class. I know that people might not think exercising and getting sweaty together is super romantic, but it can be a great way to bond and who knows, you might have a few laughs or even really enjoy it? 

I know that this year probably isn’t starting off as everyone hoped, and I don’t think we all planned to have to celebrate Valentine’s day with masks and laptops, but sadly we can’t change that. However, I hope that these ideas have inspired you if you’re looking for inspiration, or at least given you some hope that just because we’re still dealing with this pandemic, doesn’t mean we have to cancel all of our fun. We just have to be a bit more creative to make sure that we all stay safe. 

How do you usually celebrate Valentine’s day? Do you have any special plans this year? Are there any fun covid-friendly ideas you have that I might have missed? Lastly, what is your favourite part about Valentine’s day (all the chocolate, maybe??). Let’s chat in the comments section!

Lots of Love

Blondey on a Mission xxx