Christmas can be a difficult time to navigate as a blind or partially sighted person. Many of the traditions are very visual and this can cause frustration or grief for those who cannot see. We spoke to iSightCornwall member Tracy Ritchie to find out how she navigates the season as someone with no sight.
Celebrating Christmas when you cannot see, by Tracy Ritchie
Tracy: Last Christmas, I was filled with anger and sadness. It was my first Christmas since losing my sight and I ended up very low. I was mostly on my own and I ended up calling the Samaritans because I was struggling so badly.
Which is why it’s amazing to me that this year, I’m in an entirely different place and I’m looking forward to Christmas so much. It’s taken a lot of work and reflecting to get to this point, but I would like to share with other people some things which helped me change how I celebrate Christmas to bring that magic back, even though I cannot see.
Before I lost my sight, I hadn’t considered how visual Christmas can be, from Christmas light switch-ons to decorating the tree to even opening presents. I used to love it, but last year I found myself unable to do those things due to my sight loss.
It hit me very hard, and it made me angry and full of grief. But this year I have surrounded myself with an incredible support network of friends and I have found that focusing on your other senses can help you experience the festivities in a different way. It’s not the same but it’s brought the magic back to my Christmas.
Celebrating Christmas using Smell
Smell is so important at this time of year, walking through the Christmas markets you can smell the mulled wine, the hot chocolate, and the cinnamon and it’s just incredible. There are some things that are absolutely just Christmas incarnate.
If you can’t see Christmas decorations, then you can try to decorate for your nose rather than your eyes. Fill your home with the smell of Christmas, you can get dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks which smell incredible.
If you feel up to it you can boil cinnamon and cloves on the stove or even use your microwave to warm some mulled wine. Candles can be a bit of a hazard for those of us who can’t see but there’s always festive smelling diffusers or plug-in air fresheners and potpourri which can help your home smell absolutely magical.
Celebrating Christmas using Taste
Food is something you can still enjoy about Christmas, even if you can’t see what it looks like. Not being able to see can even enhance flavours, when I could see I didn’t like mince pies but now I eat so many, I could turn into one.
It’s amazing the difference it can make not having sight, it changes how you taste things. Treating myself to my favourite foods is one of the best things about Christmas and it’s a part of my old life I can still enjoy. Food is also a great gift for your blind or partially sighted friends because it doesn’t require any sight.
Celebrating Christmas using Sound
Christmas music is a must! Hearing the songs just takes me back to some fantastic memories of Christmases past but also a festive sing-along is a great way of getting you in the Christmas mood and sparking some joy.
Singing is so therapeutic and such a fun activity. It’s also great to attend choir concerts as it can be enjoyed without any sight at all and it’s a great energy being in the audience – it makes you full of the festive spirit.
You can also get some bells to decorate with, I have a friend who has added bells to his white cane to make it more festive and you can also add them to your tree, wreaths or just about anything!
Celebrating Christmas using Touch
There are some brilliant tactile decorations you can fill your space with. I love having wreaths and tinsel scattered around as they are brilliant to run your hands through – combine a wreath with some dried fruit and it’s a real Christmas treat!
Gifts can be difficult when you’ve lost your sight because you need someone to tell you what they are, it’s difficult to tell by touch alone. If you’re buying gifts for someone with sight loss then it’s good to keep that in mind.
The same with Christmas cards, if you can get a tactile one then that’s good but also, it’s better to give them in person and read out the message. I have mixed feelings about cards because they remind me of what I can’t see but if someone is able to read the lovely message inside then it makes a big difference.
Other tips
Christmas as a blind person is like trying to squeeze into an outfit which no longer fits. Instead, it’s better to do what you’re comfortable with – don’t be a people pleaser, put yourself first. If you want to say no to something, then say no. There’s a lot of pressure to do everything but it’s exhausting being blind and you need to realise you can’t do it all.
That being said, it is important not to lock yourself away. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can really make you feel down if you don’t get any sunlight so even it’s just sitting in your garden or going for a short walk – it is important to get out and about. Having a good support network around you can also be life changing, I have made some brilliant friendships this past year and thanks to them I’ve been able to get out Christmas shopping, I’ve visited the theatre and I have a wonderful Christmas dinner to look forward to.
Communicate with the people around you about your needs, worries and what you can cope with this year.
My biggest tip is about traditions; keep one tradition from before you lost your sight. Mine is to have a glass of Baileys. I used to always have one when I would decorate the tree so now on December 1st, I have that glass. The taste just sends me right back.
And then make a new tradition with this new version of you. Then your two traditions are a bridge between who you used to be and the Christmases you used to have and the new you and your new Christmas.
Helplines
Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours a day including Christmas)
Mind: 0300 102 1234 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday except Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day)
