Riding the Wave, 18. Don't Act Like It's a Normal December.

This past weekend, many stores opened in different cities. And many cities turned on the Christmas lighting. And many people decided it was a good idea to create crowds in the streets to ooh and aah. 

In Madrid and Málaga, at least, it looked like a pandemic had never passed through. Despite being just over the second wave of infection, with thousands dead, and thousands suffering health effects for months, the streets were absolutely filled with people. Sure, they were wearing masks, but social distancing was obviously lacking. 

The worst might be this coming weekend. December in Spain is the month of holidays par excellence. We have the Constitution Day on the sixth, the Immaculate Conception on the eighth, Christmas Eve on the twenty-fourth, Christmas Day on the twenty-fifth, New Year's Eve on the thirty-first, and New Year's Day on the first of January. (Despite the Eves not being full holidays, many treat them as such, even though they might work only until midday.) 

This weekend, the first holidays fall on Sunday and Tuesday, which means many will take Monday off, especially since schools don't open that day. So, a very long weekend to go somewhere on a short vacation, and stare at colored lights, and go shopping. And many might take the virus with them, unknowingly.

The final rules on how to socialize on Christmas and New Year haven't seen the light, yet. A recommendation to not exceed six people of two different households was floated. Others say a maximum of ten people, without counting children. It's true that households that used to gather twenty or thirty won't be able to do so this year, but I also don't think many will pay much attention to the rules. It's family, after all. 

In Italy, they have effectively cancelled Christmas. Movements between regions will be kept down, and the curfew that is in effect at ten in the evening, will remain until after the holidays. In Spain, there is talk of lifting it until one in the morning for the two Eves. 

Experts are saying that there will be a third wave that might be even worse than the one we're starting to get out from under, especially if during the holidays we become lax in social distancing. 

People should understand that a Christmas with video calls is much better than losing people who would have been at the table next year. My brother-in-law, who lives in another region, had been talking about coming for the holidays. He's decided not to, however, hoping that by Easter they will be able to come without any problems. It's wiser that way. It may be a sadder Christmas, and a much quieter one, but it's a simple parenthesis. If vaccination next year helps bring down contagion, then next Christmas we can all get together again. 

Life continues.