With the country in various stages of shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, holidays like Easter are likely not celebrated quite how they usually are. However, many people are still finding ways to make the best of the holidays and celebrate in ways which support social distancing measures.

Katrina Pfaffenbach, a junior majoring in molecular biology and psychology, is still living in her apartment in Winona.

Pfaffenbach and her roommates were planning to celebrate together.

“My roommates and I are going to make a big feast of ham, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies and a whole key lime pie and then Zoom into our families’ Easters together,” Pfaffenbach said.

Many people are still working, causing them to have to stay away from their families and friends for the holiday.

Kayla Liestman, a junior majoring in communications in arts and literature teaching, works at a group home and is considered an essential worker for them.

Liestman worked over the Easter weekend, so she will be away from her family. Her original plan to be home for a large family Easter celebration will be replaced with her being in Winona instead.

“I plan to stay in Winona, go to work and maybe make myself some cheesy potatoes,” Liestman said.

Much like Liestman, Nina Lovekamp, senior human resource major and management minor, is also working through this time, leaving her to be unable to safely go home to her family.

“My fiancé and I will be staying home and spending time together this Easter,” Lovekamp said. “[That is] pretty much what we have been doing for every day since quarantine started.”

Typically, Lovekamp and her fiancé said they would go back to Lovekamp’s hometown to spend time with her family and nieces but this year, COVID-19 has forced the formation of a different plan.

Jillian Volk, sophomore social work major and WGSS minor, is Jewish and celebrates Passover with her family.

Volk explained how her family usually celebrates Passover.

“On the start of Passover, the first two nights we have a Seder, which includes a dinner and a small service/ceremony,” Volk said. “So, one night, my family and I will have a Seder with usually my dad’s side and the next night with my mom’s side.”

This year, due to COVID-19, the Volk family made a nice dinner and had a Zoom call with their extended family to have a service and be together as much as they could for Passover.

Megan Weilandt, mass communication advertising major, has a unique plan to celebrate the holiday.

“My family is doing a virtual egg decorating contest where we submit our egg photos anonymously and then a few set judges will select winners,” Weilandt said. “We also are doing a guess how many jellybeans are in the jar virtually as well.”

To keep up with tradition, Weilandt’s grandma is still making a meal but wrapping each one up as a to-go meal with no-contact pick-ups for her family.

No matter how someone celebrates or what they celebrate this season, Pfaffenbach left one final message.

“We are all going to get through it together,” Pfaffenbach said.

The opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of Winona State University, the Minnesota State Colleges and University system, or the Winona State University student body.