Why does someone have a need to “feel festive”? Where does this expectation come from, to dress up, and have fun, and be joyful? We know, we know. The social norms, the marketing, the traditions remixed by marketing. Yet, I found myself asking this, on a Christmas Eve, after getting dressed up (meaning out of my leggings and hoodie), dabbing a bit of perfume on my wrists, and making my hair to “go out”, which essentially meant to the bookstore, the only open non-grocery store.

I definitely didn’t have to impress anyone with my looks, now even less, with social contacts being minimized and all. What made me feel the need to dress up? Why look around for the symbols of the festivities? Why the sadness about the lack of decorations and happy (maybe slightly drunk) faces? After all, I have never been a huge fan of Christmas, or particularly needing ugly sweaters, tons of mulled wine, Frank Sinatra or other attributes. I wasn’t against them as such, just not paying too much attention. And generally, I don’t feel like I haven’t had festive moments lately. Just maybe not on-cue ones.

Perhaps, it’s the social animal in me — the extroverted part that lives alongside the caved introvert — that wants to mingle with people, that’s very much looking forward to the post-lockdown times when we can all go to concerts and rub shoulders with others literally. Perhaps, holidays like Christmas have their social aspect both in the much-feared family reunions, and in the the town festivities like Christmas markets where you can just be among people. For someone like me, who likes and needs solitude to live and breathe, it’s also strange to find an extroverted slice of my soul that is suddenly craving the atmosphere, the holiday crowd.

I’m wondering if, when we all can go out and gather on the streets, and mingle, if the fashion is going to take a turn toward the more festive, the more crazy one. Sequins, colors, crazy hatter fashion — just because we have lounged in our sweatpants for too long. Another possibility is that loungewear will have become so much the norm by then, that we won’t be likely to exchange for anything more luxurious yet less comfortable. Wear only something you wouldn’t mind sleeping in. Time will tell. So far, the only clothes I bought were sports, lounge, and a long sleeveless dress in hope of the future in which I have somewhere to wear it.

Is there going to be a replacement for being in a noisy bar, or at a rock concert?