It is now officially November, collegiettes, and that could only mean one thing: the holiday season is near!
That’s right. The other day, I was walking through the Eaton Center and found a lovely saleswoman taking down Halloween decorations and replacing them with Christmas ornaments. Yes, the Christmas decorations were coming up, and Halloween had not even happened yet.
Many people feel overwhelmed by the onslaught of a new campaign for another holiday right after one just ended, myself totally included. But honestly, it is the beginning stages of the holiday season that are most exciting. Firstly, it’s a sign that the semester is nearing the end (which is crazy because doesn’t it feel like it just started?)! All the hours of hard work will soon be over, and if that’s not reassuring, what is?
The excitement also comes from, well, the happy-go-lucky spirit of the holidays that we catch onto. It’s hearing the holiday tunes everywhere we go and looking at holiday decorations for the first time in a long time that’s wonderful; it’s when these concepts are repeated over and over that we get annoyed.
So here I’d like to suggest five ways in which we can all get into the Chrismakwanzakah spirit sooner than later!
- Load Up The Starbucks Card: Yes, the season of the Pumpkin Spice Latte is coming to an end, and that is incredibly unfortunate. However, rejoice: the holiday drinks, such as the peppermint mocha, are coming back! So filling up your Starbucks card would be wise, so you could savour the last days of PSL and grab the first holiday drinks as well!
- Blast Up The Tunes: What are the holidays without holiday music? Whether you dig the “Jingle Bell Rock” or “The Hannukah Song”, now would be a nice time to get your holiday playlist ready for future Christmas parties, or holiday themed study sessions (what? It’s a great way to get motivated about at the end of the semester!)
- Prepare the Gift Lists: Many of us are living the broke student life, but that doesn’t mean we won’t gift. Now would be a great time to think about what kinds of trinkets you would give to which loved ones, because before you know it, Black Friday sales are on. Sale shopping is stressful enough – so why not go prepared?
- Decorate Your Space: As the above image indicates, holiday decorations are officially out. If you want your living space, whether its your downtown apartment or your family home, to feel a little bit more festive, head to the nearest dollar store and grab some cute decorations.
- Get Ready For The End: Even though many of us are still somehow in midterms, it wouldn’t hurt to get a heads up on finals. Find out when your final exams are (the official dates are out), book appointments to meet with profs or TAs for help, and better yet, start planning your break! Are you going back home? Are you going on vacation? It’s November, y’all! Time for the festivities to become real!
Images obtained from: sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/say-merry-christmas-pretty-early.png , c2.staticflickr.com/2/1186/5140606011_0f7bf1238d_z.jpg, www.troll.me/images/winter-is-coming/brace-yourselves-the-end-is-coming.jpg.
Christmas wreath photo contributed by the author.