Dear Pisces, Aries, Taurus, and Geminis: we feel your pain. From drive-bys to Zoom parties, quarantine has challenged people to rethink the classic birthday, finding new methods to approach our annual celebrations.
Monumental birthday moments like blowing out candles and singing “Happy Birthday” are still needed; really, they’re crucial to keep some sense of normalcy through the pandemic. Plus, we still need our friends, maybe more now than ever. This is where the internet and imagination come into play. With these things in mind, let me walk you through everything you need to know about celebrations during COVID-19. Here’s the ultimate guide to the quarantine birthday.
Birthday Planning
Choose a platform.
Whether it’s FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or Zoom, choose your preferred platform. Know your guests and set the stage accordingly.
Make it fancy by sending an Evite—or why not try sending an invitation via snail mail? Not only will this excite your guest, but it’ll also spice up their day when they receive an unexpected letter in their mailbox.
Bring the party to your guests’ doorstep.
Possibly one of the coolest start-ups of this pandemic is KikiKit, a service designed purely to bring the party to a person’s doorstep. Not only does this make the party happen, but it brings everyone together to share the same experience—even when apart.
Design your own party kit, send it out, and sit back. Time to relax and watch the excitement roll in.
Indulge in some birthday attire.
What’s better than getting a package in the mail during quarantine—or the feeling of putting on clothes? Indulge in both! Celebrate yourself by dressing up and listen to a pump-up birthday playlist while you glam.
Pick a theme.
From Tiger King, to prom night, to pajama party, or even dressing up as quarantine stereotypes, have fun with a theme! It’s a playful way to get your guest anticipating your big day and also to bring a sense of (virtual) unity.
Try setting up a cool background for your party too, just to get into the spirit. Best costume contest, anyone?
How to Involve Other People
Have a movie night.
Pop the popcorn and get yourself a good ol’ slushie too! Netflix Party is a new favorite for watching a movie in real time with your friends. Try chatting or FaceTiming while it’s playing to recreate an IRL movie night.
Compile a video with all your friends.
What’s more fun than seeing all your friends’ faces at once? You can use old videos or have friends send videos of themselves wishing you well. Either method is a great way to have all your friends together in one adorable video that lasts forever. Trust me, this will be a birthday to never forget. Try apps like TikTok or iMovie!
Paint and sip.
What could be more fun than all your party-goers sharing a bottle of rosé and sketching together? Host a virtual paint-and-sip to celebrate. Sites like this allow you to sketch online. So why not share your screen and show your friends your art?
If sketching isn’t your thing, try Aggie, which allows you to invite friends to your sketch. You can go old-school and play games like hangman, tic tac toe, dots and boxes, and more.
Turning 21? Go to Club Quarantine.
Turning 21 in quarantine doesn’t have to be depressing, instead, join hundreds of individuals who have recreated the club experience at home. Check out user @EmilyTorchia’s TikTok of this, which currently has 5.9 million views. And yes—you will get ID’d at the door.
Spa day.
Time to really destress. Slip into your new age with a fresh mindset and get ready to take on the world by hosting your own at-home spa day. Slice some cucumbers, steam your face, try a DIY body scrub, and pamper yourself. Maybe even try press-on nails?
Scrapbook together.
Check out Canva to create a virtual scrapbook with friends. Canva is filled with countless templates, designs, and easy-to-use tools to create and share with friends. It’s also available in an app form, so you can join in the fun right from your iPhone. So all your friends can grab a page and scrapbook your memories and laughs while hanging out together virtually.
Drive-by party.
Nothing’s better than seeing your loved ones’ faces on your birthday. If you’re living close to your friends, plan a time for everyone to come by; play some music, order your favorite cake, and hang out outside. Enjoy staying safe while also partying with your friends.
We still have to practice social distancing, but that doesn’t mean your birthday’s going to be a bust! During this time, enjoy the simple things that make you happy—and do whatever you need to do to make yourself happy this coming birthday.
By Anna M Erickson
