Although the Winter Season can be filled with magic and merry-making, they aren’t always easy to face in a long-distance relationship. Some people are also spending the holidays apart from their family this year. Fortunately, technology can bring us closer than ever before. Here are some fun holiday and winter activities that you can do with your LDR partner & loved ones you’re far from to feel closer and cozier than ever.
I’ve divided the links & ideas below into 4 sections for your convenience while reading. Happy Holidays!
Holiday Themed LDR Dates & Activities
Group Online Holiday Activities:
Host a virtual Christmas party online
Use Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Discord, or any of your favorite video call platforms to invite loved ones from near and far for a fun festive video call. You can use festive backgrounds, encourage costumes & holiday sweaters, and even use fun face filters to add a little charm to the call. Have everyone go around and share a favorite Christmas memory, or start a discussion regarding what is the best part of Winter.
Christmas Kahoot Trivia
Kahoot.com is a quiz taking website where you can make your own trivia games or take pre-written ones. There are dozens of Christmas trivia courses with fun festive questions to get you and your friends in the spirit of the season. If you’re feeling a little more creative and ambitious, you can even make your own trivia game with inside jokes and family references. An account is free as long as less than 10 players are playing at once.
JackBox Games
If you haven’t played JackBox Games, let this be your sign to try it out! Whether you’re playing with family, friends, or new acquaintances the variety of games on here makes for something for everyone. We’ve played this so many times as an LDR Couple with friends and family and it’s always a hit. One Christmas I wasn’t able to be there with my partner’s family, but this way I was able to still be included in the fun!
‘One Word’ Game
My partner and I recently discovered this game at a dinner party and we’ve quickly become obsessed. I was so ecstatic when I found a version of it online that I could play with my friends and family back home. The basic rules of the game are that the group is trying to get a guesser to guess a hidden word, but each person can only use one clue word to help them guess. Everyone submits their words, but if there are any doubled-up words they are eliminated. It’s really fun and easy to learn and we haven’t got tired of it after dozens of rounds. Try it soon with your LDR partner and friends for a great online holiday activity.
Holiday Code Names Games
Code Names is a great word based guessing game, that can be played as a board game or online for free. Using word based clues, try to get your “operatives” to guess the hidden identity of the correct spies. Add a little bit of holiday flair to your next Code Names rounds by using the ‘holiday words’ expansion pack. You can even submit your own words to make each game a little more personal.
Big Potato Games
Those looking for fun group games that get everyone laughing should definitely give Big Potato Games a chance. They have a whole package of fun games that are specially designed for Zoom groups. Check it out here! You can also access 3 of their best selling board games for free by signing up for their newsletter. Click here to see the freebies!
Skribbl.io
This is a great way to play a round of ‘pictionary’ online with friends and family. This is a speed-based guessing game, and it’s so fun to compete with everyone. Free to play and super easy to set-up. If you make a private room, you can enter your own custom words, including some Christmas themed ones! Click here to see for yourself.
Psycatgames.com
Play Charades, Truth or Dare, Spin the Bottle, and more at this fun site filled with games and conversation starters for couples, families, and friend groups! Click here to play online!
Gartic Phone
Have you ever played telephone with friends? How about pictionary telephone? This online game is so fun to play with friends and gets everyone laughing at the hilarious ways that a prompt can be interpretted and changed throughout rounds drawing and guessing. There’s also a bunch of fun game options so that your rounds never get old. We’ve played this game for hours and had a blast! Check it out for free here.
Settlers of Catan
Nothing brings a group of people together (or tears it apart) like a good old game of Catan. You can play in the “Catan Universe” online at Catan.com. Click here to play.
Alternatively, you can play a similar version of the game called “Colonist” at Colonist.io.
Online Winter Experiences:
Virtual Light Walk
Explore a beautiful lights exhibit as though you were really there! So many amazing light exhibits recorded a virtual tour to experience online when most events shut down last year. You can search “Virtual Light Walk” on Youtube for some great options from around the world. Another great idea is to explore a Christmas village on google maps together by sharing your screen. Definitely an immersive option for ldr couples to have a romantic light walk together!
Play Club Penguin Online Together
For an extra boost of holiday nostalgia, boot up Club Penguin and play online together in a winter wonderland. They recently rebooted club Penguin, and you can still play online by clicking here.
Make Snowflakes together
Making paper snowflakes has always been one of my favorite winter crafts. You can enjoy this classic winter activity online and cut out your own elaborate patterns. Try making names or recognizable shapes for a fun twist. Who can make the best snowflake? Click here to make your own snowflakes!
Virtual One Horse Sleigh Ride
Over the hills we go, laughing all the way! Even if it’s an online ride, this is a great alternative to a beloved Christmas tradition. Youtube has a few ideas, and you could even make your own pretend scene on here.fm.
Play a Christmas song together on a shared piano
If you want to add a little bit of a musical twist to your holiday date, try using a shared piano like the Smule Magic Piano to play songs together. Many other piano apps include a “duet” mode so you can both play a little jingle bells together.
Build a Snowman together
In some video games, like Animal Crossing, you can play a little mini game of rolling snowballs into a Snowman. This is a great holiday activity for couples to feel closer and share a winter memory while apart.
Decorate Christmas cookies together
Take your holiday traditions to the screen by facetiming or video calling to share your holiday spirit with your LDR partner. Long distance couples can still make cute memories together, as well as delicious cookies.
Send photos of the best decorated houses in your neighborhoods
Are your neighbors the type who go all out for Christmas with lights and decorations? Share photos of them with your LDR partner to feel a little closer this holiday season. Maybe even compete to see who can find the house that is the most decked out in holiday spirit!
Last-minute gift ideas:
Personalized Ornaments
Was this year a milestone for your relationship? Maybe it was your first Christmas as a couple, or your first Christmas apart. Maybe it’s your 5th anniversary or maybe this is the year you got engaged. Capture those important memories with a personalized gift ornament. You could get a clear ornament and decorate it yourself, or maybe order one handmade by an artist off Etsy. Whether you put it on your own tree and send them a photo, or send them the ornament itself, its a great way to bring you both together.
Animated E-card
I have a dear friend who every holiday sends a personalized e-card with animations to her loved ones. It’s such a sweet way to say I’ve been thinking of you, without needing to wait for shipping or any mail delays. They can bring a little brightness to someone’s Christmas morning.
Gift Card to their favorite coffee shop or restaurant
These days you can send a gift card virtually for just about any restaurant or coffee shop. This is a practical gift and a great way to show you care with just a few clicks of a mouse. This is also a gift that can keep giving, as they’ll think of you the next time they buy themselves a meal or a warm drink. Even though you may not be able to take them out on a date while you’re long-distance, you can still treat them and show them a little love.
Koya
Koya is a unique app that unlocks gifts for your partner at certain locations. You can send them a special giftcard that unlocks at the mall or at a restaurant and they’ll be able to enjoy a mini adventure to find the ‘virtual gift’ you’ve sent them.
Online Game Downloads
I’ve always felt that video games are a great way to bring people together- and they’re especially useful for uniting LDR couples with a fun activity. (Here are some of our favorite games for ldr couples!) You could also order them a game they can play on their own. I’ve bought games for friends through Steam using the ‘gift’ option and I think it’s a great way to send someone something they’ll enjoy without waiting for package delivery or worrying about the added expense of shipping.
Steam right now is having a Winter Sale and some of the most popular games are available at a huge discount! Don’t miss out. A few of our top picks this season are “It Takes Two”, “Tabletop Simulator” and “Stardew Valley.”
Holiday LDR Dates & Activities:
Build a Gingerbread house together
This is my holiday tradition and I love building Gingerbread houses with my loved ones: even if they are far away. Last Christmas we set up our webcams and shared the whole experience of baking and assembling our houses through a video call. It was so much fun and we even made a bit of a contest out of it! Make sure you have some colorful candy to decorate with and remember to have fun with it.
Decorate your tree together
If you haven’t already decorated your tree, this is a great tradition to start as a couple. Even while you’re apart you can be included in this important part of Christmas. If you have a big time difference, maybe send them a video of you putting one or two special ornaments on and let them know you’re thinking of them.
Video Call Santa
Did you know Santa Claus can video call? Set up your own personal video call with Santa for some holiday cheer and well wishes. Let him know what you want for Christmas and hear a few holiday jokes as well from the merriest man of all.
Open Gifts on a Video Call
Did your gifts arrive on time this year? Open them together! Depending on your time difference you may be able to do a video call together and experience the reactions of your loved ones and share yours as well. If your time difference is too great to arrange to call together, maybe record your reaction for your partner to watch later as part of a Christmas gift to them so they can feel like they’re right there with you.
Matching Pjs
What is cuter than a matching pajama set for you both to wear during your Christmas festivities? You may not be together to take couple Christmas photos, but now all your individual photos will match! You could even photoshop a picture of you two standing next to each other in your matching clothes.
Make a festive scene on here.fm
Here.fm has a wide range of holiday themed scenes for you to experience with your loved ones, and even play games and watch movies too. If you want to personalize it, that’s also available and you can create your own dream Christmas morning to enjoy over a video call with your LDR partner.
Explore a holiday cabin on doveydates.com
Looking for something cute and interactive for you and your partner to do online? Try DoveyDates.com for an adorable Christmas themed virtual date.
Watch a holiday movie together
Although there is much debate over which holiday classics is the “Best Christmas Movie”, there’s no arguing that there is a lot to choose from. Whether you’re going to watch The Grinch, A Christmas Story, Home Alone, A Hallmark Christmas Movie, or even Die Hard- there’s something for every couple to love. Pour yourself a hot chocolate or egg nog and enjoy this shared experience with your love. We usually both hit ‘play’ at the same time and time our movies so that we can both enjoy the same movie whether on netflix or another streaming service, but there are also a few programs availble to watch movies together.
Make some Christmas cards together
Settle down with some cozy Christmas traditions and write a few Christmas cards to the ones you love. Maybe even write a card to each other with some secret surprises of love and well wishes for the holiday season. Your partner will love getting a handwritten card expressing your love, and it truly is a great way to show them how much you care.
Photoshop yourselves onto Santa’s lap
Are photos with Santa part of your annual traditions? Bring Santa into your virtual Holiday with the magic of technology. Use “Capture the Magic” to bring Santa right into your living room! If you have some tech skills you can use a number of apps to also insert Mr. Santa Claus into your holiday scene.
Christmas trivia contest
What did he get for his last Christmas? What was her favorite Christmas of all time? What is their most treasured holiday tradition? Make a quiz for your partner and see how well they know you and the holidays by using Kahoot.com. It’s fast and easy to make a simple quiz and you can see how well you know each other. There are also a few pre-made Christmas Trivias that you can battle in to see who knows the most facts about Christmas!
Find out if you’ve been naughty or nice with a fun quiz
Bring a little spice to your Christmas with this naughty or nice quiz! Which of you has been more nice or more naughty? Find out by taking the quiz online at psycatgames.com.
In conclusion, we hope that whether near or far you have a wonderful Christmas and Holiday season with the ones you love most. Please reach out to us with any questions or to share some stories of your winter LDR adventures.