The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted so many planned events and ceremonies this year that virtual and digital ceremonies have emerged as commonplace occurrences, with thousands of cyber weddings, funerals, and graduations hosted on Zoom, Minecraft, Animal Crossing or any number of other platforms.

Japanese students held a virtual ceremony on Zoom, with students able to virtually walk across the stage to accept their diplomas with remote-controlled robots. A Finnish company created an online Easter table to allow up to 12 people to virtually join together and celebrate the holiday with video chatting. The trend has become so widespread that many governments, such as the state of New York, are removing any regulatory barriers that might impede such ceremonies.