Happy Holidays Y’all!
Happy holidays collegiettes! ‘Tis the season for family, friends, sales and… tamales? Since you’re lucky enough to live in the great state of Texas, spice things up and add a little Southern spin to your celebrations. Welcome to your new go-to guide for ways to make your holiday season more festive and more Texan!
Holiday decorations
Texas ornaments. Lights. Wreaths. The possibilities are endless!
Studies have shown that anyone who drives by your house and sees this in your yard will instantly fall in love with you.
It’s Christmastime and OU still sucks.
You better deck those halls, y’all.
Food
While the rest of the country is being basic and eating fruitcake, YOU need to be eating tamales. Here are some great tips for the perfect Christmas tamales: http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/12/tamales-for-christmas-a-texas-holiday-tradition/
Activities
Here are various festivals and events that are taking place throughout Texas this holiday season!
Dickens on the Strand – Galveston, TX
http://dickens.galvestonhistory.org/
This Victorian-style holiday festival on Galveston Island gives half-price tickets to attendees in Victorian costume!
Grapevine, TX
http://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/christmas-capital-of-texas/
Grapevine prides itself in being “The Christmas Capital of Texas”, so you can’t go wrong spending the holidays here. They have Opry Christmas shows, a Twinkle Light Boat Parade, the North Pole Express train ride and more. Plus the Grapevine Mills mall is huge.
River Walk – San Antonio, TX
http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/
The River Walk is full of all the sights and sounds of the season. Enjoy “Holiday Boat Caroling”: as you stroll around, you’ll be serenaded by boats full of carolers.
Prairie Lights – Grand Prairie, TX
With 4 million lights and 2 miles of path, this famous drive-thru holiday light park is sure to delight everyone in the family, especially the kids.
Campfire Christmas – Richmond, TX
http://www.georgeranch.org/programs-events/christmas-in-the-park/
This has to be the most authentic Texan way to spend your winter break. George Ranch Historical Park’s holiday celebration takes you back in time to how the first settlers in Texas celebrated Christmas. Featuring wagon rides, an old-fashioned barn dance, traditional Texas dinner with cowboy musicians serenading you as you dine, cattle drive and more, the night finishes off by recreating “Christmas Eve 1844 as the Republic of Texas prepares for Statehood.” The ranch also has holiday craft workshops and other special activities throughout December.
Music
Countrify your Christmas playlist!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (original version) – Gene Autry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ara3-hDH6I
All I Want For Christmas is a Real Good Tan – Kenny Chesney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqmwA7rd9EE
Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Lady Antebellum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3H6YE-40xg
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer – Elmo & Patsy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgIwLeASnkw
To top it all off, here’s a fun story to share with your loved ones… The Night Before Christmas: Texas Style!
Have a great winter break, longhorns! You deserve it.