Coronavirus: How Europeans Country are preparing for Christmas and New Year

Italy: No Christmas markets and a nationwide curfew

Italy is currently seeing the highest number of deaths since the end of March and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has told Italians to expect a "more sober Christmas, without Christmas Eve gatherings, hugs and kisses".

Many Italian regions are under partial lockdown and a ban on travel between different regions from 21 December to 6 January has been announced.

On top of the regional travel bans, people will not be allowed to leave their hometowns on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. There will be exceptions for work, medical reasons or emergencies.

Churches are free to remain open, but the curfew means the traditional midnight Mass is unlikely to happen. The beloved Italian Christmas market, meanwhile, has already been banned.

Spain: Travel allowed and limited gatherings

The Spanish government has approved a set of rules for the period between 23 December and 6 January. Regional governments, however, have the power to toughen these common rules if they deem it necessary.

During this window, travel between regions will be allowed providing people are visiting friends and family.

Social gatherings on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day will be limited to 10 people. And unlike many European countries, this limit does include children. 

The current curfew will also be extended to 01:30 on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Spanish families traditionally celebrate the Feast of the Three Kings with a parade on 5 January, but the government has recommended that celebrations do not take place.

Portugal will be easy

Portugal will ease coronavirus rules over the Christmas period to allow people to visit loved ones, but measures will be reimposed a few days later to crack down on New Year’s Eve parties, the government said on Saturday.

While a ban on domestic travel will not be imposed between Dec. 23 and Dec. 26, Prime Minister Antonio Costa urged people to avoid spending too long in large festive gatherings without wearing a face mask.

“It’s essential that this Christmas is a time of sharing but that in this sharing there is no involuntary transmission of the virus,” Costa told reporters as he announced the measures.

There is no limit on how many people can gather per household for Christmas and the night-time curfew will be pushed back from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.

“Today families have enough information to know family gatherings are moments of risk,” Costa said. “We must trust the Portuguese people.”

For New Year’s Eve, street parties will be banned and outdoor gatherings will be limited to a maximum of six people.

People will still be allowed to meet at each other’s houses as long as they stay in their own municipalities and return home before the 2 a.m. curfew.

After a relatively mild first wave of the disease compared with countries such as Spain or Italy, Portugal has seen a record number of infections and deaths during the second wave though the daily tally has dropped slightly in recent days.

Portugal, which has a population of just over 10 million, has recorded 318,640 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4,876 deaths.

Christmas in Lithuania will be different: brighter, closer to home and with alternative ideas

Due to the pandemic “Christmas in Vilnius” of 2020 will be different – less gathering, but more light and decorations throughout the city. A counterweight to a reality that limits everyone will be a great focus on the decoration of Vilnius: light decorations, creativity of communities and the original ideas of alternative Christmas that are still being born in recent days. During the first wave of the coronavirus, Vilnius residents showed that they are able to concentrate in the most difficult time and activate all their creativity. Christmas in the capital will be really brighter, closer to home and will offer a variety of alternatives.

Vilnius has been preparing for various Christmas scenarios since the summer and other formats of Christmas tree light up Ceremony along with the concert were being considered. However, with the growing number of cases in the country, even more serious measures have to be taken to ensure the safety of the population. Taking into account the latest recommendations of world and Lithuanian public health experts, similar decisions of other foreign Christmas Town organizers, the municipality and the organizers of the Christmas in Vilnius project had to make one of the most difficult decisions in the history of winter holidays. In order to ensure the safety and health of Vilnius residents, traditional events and fairs gathering masses of people had to be canceled. Thus, Christmas 3D fairy tales, Christmas train, Christmas Town, International Christmas charity fairs, Christmas design square were all given up. These festive events have all gathered thousands of crowds of people where controlling distances would be extremely difficult, and most events are generally banned altogether. 

All this will be replaced by festive walks around the beautifully decorated Vilnius and alternative ideas, in which many artists and active communities have already been involved. The city will present all the mentioned above before the Christmas trees light up Ceremony.

“Let us stay responsibly in this quarantine to greet Christmas in the capital in full health. This year it will be even brighter, more spiritual, and more intimate. In the current circumstances, it would be irresponsible to continue tempting events when it is not possible to ensure compliance with distances or other requirements. We must be determined, because the health and safety of people is our main priority, ”says Vilnius Deputy Mayor Edita Tamošiūnaitė.

Xmas in Poland, among traditional carp, a Christmas tree with apples, and carols from house to house…

It is possible to feel the spirit of Christmas in Poland starting from the end of November. Usually, during this time the Christmas markets are getting opened in the cities. You can always buy there some warm food, drinks, a Christmas tree, and handmade souvenirs. This year the Christmas fairs were cancelled due to the COVID-19. Traditionally, the celebration of Christmas in Poland begins on the evening of December 24th. This day is called Wigilia. Wigilia (Polish pronunciation: [viˈɡilʲa]) is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland. People are convinced in the fact that in the way they spend Christmas Eve the whole year will pass. Therefore, they try to make this day really fabulous and warm.

Romania

Romania has imposed stricter pandemic measures amid rising COVID-19 cases that authorities say could overwhelm the country's health system. The new measures include mandatory mask-wearing with fines up to €500, authorities said.

Bars and restaurants can stay open until 10 p.m. and operate at 50% or 30% capacity depending on the area’s infection rate, and COVID-19 passes are required. The same goes for sporting events, gyms, and cinemas. Meanwhile, quarantine and isolation periods have been reduced. Infections in Romania have risen from fewer than 1,000 new cases in December to around 6,000 in the past week.