Young Okotoks artists have once again decorated the windows of the Okotoks Municipal Centre with a Christmas mural.

It's the second consecutive year for the 12 Days of Christmas mural, though the same group also painted a "Stronger Together" mural at the same location over the summer.

Unlike last year's "Geeky 12 Days of Christmas" theme, this year's mural addresses something that's been hanging over the heads not only of Okotokians but citizens across the globe: the COVID-19 pandemic.

The "COVID Christmas" mural features several iconic staples of the pandemic, including virtual hugs, streaming shows, and of course, rolls of toilet paper.

Local artist and organizer of the mural, Robin Thibodeau, says it's intended to give some reverence to the things that have kept us going through a sometimes exhausting year.

"We tried to make it look more like giving thanks, and recognizing what we've learned. Putting in the church-like windows is kind of honouring all those things we've relied on to get through this difficult time."

Thibodeau assembled seven artists for the project, comprised of current and former students, many of whom returned from the previous mural projects.

She says the light-hearted look at the pandemic is important from time to time, and something artists excel at.

"Artists and creative people tend to feel the pulse of what's going on around them, and they're able to put it in a visual display. People can connect to that and now feel so low, it kind of brings levity to it."

Thibodeau says most of the things included in the mural would've seemed commonplace or unremarkable in years prior, which really goes to show what a gruelling year it's been.

"Recognizing frontline workers is something we should've been doing for millennia, right? And the fact that we sort of don't value hugs. We didn't, we do now... We just took it for granted, like we tend to do. I think it's the human condition, we take a lot of things for granted until it's taken away."

The mural was finished in time for this year's Light Up Okotoks and will remain there well into January.