How can Europeans spend this year's Christmas vacation? This is the question that all European governments think about. Many European countries will try to make balance between easing the measures and allowing the citizens to celebrate. Here is a list of the expected form of Christmas celebrations in various European countries.
Italy
“It will be a different kind of Christmas,” the prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, said on Thursday. “Sacrifices are still necessary in order not to expose ourselves to a third wave in January with a high number of deaths.”
Therefore, Italy will ban any means of traveling among different Italian regions from 21st of December to January 7.
people will not be allowed to leave their home towns on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. There will be exceptions for work, medical reasons, or emergencies.
Italians can have family home dinners without any measures, however, all restaurants and cafes will close their doors at 6 pm. The one table can carry four persons at maximum.
Many Italian regions are under partial lockdown which could be extended to curfew during the vacation.
Germany
“We have two messages for the people: firstly, thank you, but secondly, restrictions will not be lifted altogether,” the chancellor, Angela Merkel, said this week, adding that measures would probably continue into the new year. “The exponential rise in infections is broken, but daily cases are still far too high.”
Germany extended its “lockdown until December 23 and is tightening its restrictions on gatherings in order to control the spread of the COVID-19 before the beginning of the holidays.
Private meetings were restricted to 5 persons until December 23 then they will be eased again to allow up to 10 persons until 1 January.
Spain
“We are working on a specific plan for a Christmas that will be different but safe,” the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said this week. “This year, we will need to stay at a distance from our loved ones, instead of embracing them.”
That's why the regional government of Madrid is proposing to allow groups of up to 10 persons to gather on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and the feast of the Epiphany.
Moreover, the current midnight to 6 am curfew would be replaced on those days by another one which is running from 1.30 am to 6 am.
France
It is expected that France may start a month-long lockdown after the one which will be ended on 15 December. Moreover, non-essential shops are due to reopen on Saturday, allowing Christmas shopping to get underway.
Austria
“We know it’s something close to many people’s hearts to be able to celebrate in a half decent way with at least a small number of their loved ones,” said the chancellor, Sebastian Kurz.
“We want to deploy mass tests at the end of the lockdown in order to enable a safe reopening in schools and other areas … and also to make it possible for people to enjoy Christmas in a close family circle.”
The government announced a wide program of mass testing over the next few weeks, to allow more families to reunite over the festive period.
Belgium
“The last thing we want is a Christmas wave,” the prime minister, Alexander De Croo, said. “If we are careless over Christmas, we will all suffer the consequences later.”
Families can invite one guest for Christmas dinner. Unlike persons who live alone, they can invite 2 guests for Christmas dinner.
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