It’s mind-blowing that it’s been five years since the pandemic started here in the US, and we officially entered quarantine.
Times Square empty with illuminated billboards, including messages of thanks to healthcare workers and various advertisements, during the pandemic
Since “pandemic nostalgia” is now a thing, let’s revisit all the forgotten trends from that surreal era…
1.Making banana bread:
Sliced banana bread on a wooden board, surrounded by bananas and a bowl of almonds
2.Making sourdough starter so you could make sourdough bread:
A glass jar of bubbly sourdough starter sits next to a sliced loaf of rustic bread, highlighting texture and artisanal baking
3.Attending the dreaded Zoom Happy Hour:
Person raising a glass in a virtual toast with friends on a tablet screen
4.Making dalgona coffee:
Person’s hand drizzling whipped coffee over milk in a glass, surrounded by scattered coffee beans
5. Singing a 20-second song so that you knew you washed your hands the appropriate amount of time:
GloriaGaynor / Via Twitter: @urdadssidepiece
6.Doing elbow handshakes:
Two people wearing suits and masks greet each other with elbow bumps, suggesting a friendly interaction at an outdoor event
7.People doing the “Pillow Challenge” on Insta:
8.Everyone you knew going on Instagram Live:
Smartphone screen showing a live stream with a man seated, possibly playing piano. Social media icons and comments visible
9. The “nature is healing” meme:
@taladorei / Via Twitter: @taladorei
10.Obsessing over Tiger King:
Person with a mullet hairstyle in a shiny sequined jacket poses next to a large tiger, both inside an enclosure
11.And also Carole “Hey all you cool cats and kittens” Baskin:
A person kneels next to a lion in an enclosure. They wear a vibrant, patterned tunic and jeans, with a bohemian headband in an outdoor setting
12.Decluttering your house (because you had nothing to do) and then donating it at already packed thrift stores:
Person organizing clothes in a wardrobe, holding a black garment, with shelves and hangers visible in the background
13.Doing lots and lots of puzzles:
Two people working on a partially completed puzzle at a table, focusing on placing pieces together
14.Changing your Zoom background to something “quirky”:
15.Reading the signs outside stores to see what was out of stock:
Sign lists items out of stock at a store, including toilet paper, sanitizer, and wipes. A Costco notice mentions item limits and unavailable optical orders
16. Hoarding toilet paper:
@Torrezriley / Via Twitter: @torrezriley
17.Hoarding meat:
A shopping cart filled with packages of raw meat
18. Basically, hoarding almost everything except Corona beer:
@jameshurley_ / Via Twitter: @jameshurley_
19. Stores being sold out of all bottled water except Dasani:
@TY__Land / Via Twitter: @Ty__Land
20.Not being able to find hand sanitizer anywhere:
Sign on store shelf limiting disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizers, and face wipes to 6 per guest due to high demand
21.And not being able to find any type of disinfecting cleaner in general:
Store shelf with many cleaning products sold out, showing limited stock of sprays and disinfectants during a high-demand period
22.Becoming a plant parent and buying lots of plants:
People wearing masks browsing plants in a greenhouse
23.Watching Chris Como and former New York governor Andrew Como cringey exchanges on CNN:
Split-screen TV interview with NY Governor discussing coronavirus efforts; the overlay shows “Coronavirus Pandemic” and “NY Governor on how state is fighting coronavirus.”
24.Going to drive-in movies:
Drive-in theater at night showing a scene from a classic movie with cars parked facing the large screen
25.Binge-watching a TV show you hadn’t seen before:
A group of well-dressed individuals in an office setting, featuring 1960s-style fashion with suits and vintage dresses, reminiscent of a retro TV show
26.Watching TV specials and interviews where celebs filmed themselves at home:
Ariana Grande singing with various poses, wearing an off-shoulder outfit. Text below: “YOU SWOON YOU SIGH WHY DENY IT OH OH”
27. Celebrities doing random online events:
Grindr/ Twitter: @hourlyXCX
28.Everyone joining TikTok and doing dances, like the “Blinding Lights” and “I’m a Savage” dance, or challenges like the “Flip the Switch Challenge”:
A hand holds a smartphone displaying the TikTok logo, indicating use of the popular social media app
29. March 1 vs. April 1 memes:
MGM / Via Twitter: @zedonarrival
30.Buying a Nintendo Switch (if you could find one) and playing Animal Crossing:
Person playing a handheld gaming console, featuring a virtual character in front of a digital building, with gameplay elements visible on screen
31.Buying a Peloton:
Exercise bike in a living room with a TV and bookshelves
32.Buying an air fryer:
Air fryer with a person’s hand holding a basket of cooked fries next to the appliance on a kitchen counter
33.Getting a quarantine dog or cat:
Man talking on phone, working at desk with a laptop, and holding a puppy on his lap in a bright room with large windows
34. Clapping for essential workers:
@NickJonas / Via Twitter: @feistyfrank
35.Becoming addicted to online shopping:
Package protruding from an overstuffed mailbox at a roadside
36. Watching tons of hyper-realistic cakes videos:
@Tasty/ @redrosecake_tubageckil / Via Twitter: @tasty
37. The memes about thinking everything is a cake:
38.Downloading a bunch of social apps like Marco Polo:
Marco Polo app logo: a colorful beach ball icon with text “Marco Polo” below it
39.Watching Hamilton a few times on Disney+:
Two actors in historical costumes, one with a blue coat and white ruffled shirt, performing a scene on stage, surrounded by candlelight
40.Being very invested in Love Is Blind:
Group of six people sitting together, dressed in formal evening attire, smiling and conversing in a casual setting with a purple backdrop
41. Never knowing what day of the week it was:
42. The “hope this email finds you well” meme:
Westbrook Studios / Via Twitter: @emmadmazhari
43.Making the viral feta pasta recipe:
Block of feta cheese surrounded by cherry tomatoes, garlic, and herbs, in a baking dish, ready to be cooked
44.Cottagecore:
Cozy kitchen with a wooden table set for a meal, sunflowers in a vase, and herbs hanging by a sunlit window
45.Cutting your own bangs:
Person trimming their bangs in front of a mirror
46.And gay guys buzzing their hair off:
Person shaving head with electric clippers, visible hair growth on sides, smiling
47.Buying Crocs unironically:
An assortment of various styles of Crocs footwear displayed on a retail store rack
48.Tie-dying clothes because there was nothing else to do:
Five tie-dye shirts hanging on a line, indicative of past fashion trends
49.Making jokes about the last time you wore pants:
Pair of folded blue jeans on a plain background
50.And lastly, the #2020challenge:
