Exchanging Gifts Doesn't Require Physical Proximity

Online shopping has made sending gifts easier than ever. Whether shopping for local books at Bookshop.org, or finding the perfect Christmas sweater on everything from local businesses' websites to Amazon, shoppers can safely buy and ship gifts to loved ones online. People can even do gift exchanges on Zoom or other online platforms. If everyone coordinates beforehand to deliver their gifts before Christmas, families can still enjoy opening their gifts "together." Depending on the weather, some Americans can get together for socially distanced, masked, outdoor gift exchanges. If everyone adheres to the rules, it's possible to keep physical distance and have an in-person gift exchange. For that to work, etiquette expert Lizzie Post suggests hosts be upfront about the rules with everyone, especially friends or family members who have been more lax about the Center for Disease Control's COVID-19 recommendations. "Everyone must wear a mask indoors; if not, they can stand outside and watch as everyone opens gifts around the fireplace!" Post told MarthaStewart.com.