The holiday season is often harder away from home. The residence halls seem to suck the life out of this special season. Being away from family, hometown friends, decorated houses, and finals season (ugh) can cause challenges when trying to get into the spirit of things. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean that winter has to be a depressing time! With a bit of creativity and positivity, you can bring the warmth and fun of the holidays to your campus. Here are some of my favorite holiday traditions you can easily recreate with college friends!
Gingerbread House Decorating
One of the sweetest holiday traditions is entirely possible even without a full kitchen. Many grocery stores carry gingerbread kits that make it super convenient. You can gather some friends and set a a decorating station in your dorm’s common space. Just make sure to put down some paper first for easy cleanup! Trader Joe’s comes to the rescue here, as per usual. Here is their gingerbread house set, complete with gingerbread, candy, icing, and even some little woodland animals for decor! The entire thing is $9. If you like a little competition, turn the decorating into a game! You can create awards for you and your friends to vote on, like “Most likely to collapse,” “Most creative,” and “Most festive.” Make sure to cue up your favorite Christmas songs while you work. Here are some of our favorites.
Holiday Volunteering
‘Tis the season of giving! There are so many incredible opportunities to volunteer around Providence this winter. Look for local shelters, food banks, or gift drives that might need some help. If you are able, the Angel Tree program is a wonderful way to make sure that more kids are able to enjoy their Christmas! You can find a store with them near you with a simple Google search. If you would rather volunteer your time, a club called “Food Not Bombs” here at Brown does breakfast and lunch services throughout the week in Kennedy Plaza. The Amos House in Providence is a soup kitchen that always welcomes volunteers!
Movie Night
A fun movie marathon is the perfect way to embrace the holiday spirit. String up some fairy lights and pile up your blankets and pillows on the floor to create a Christmas ambience. Use a projector or a lounge TV for a bigger event. You can make a sign-up sheet for everyone to bring snacks and hot chocolate. If you want to add a twist, make “holiday bingo” cards with squares like “it starts to snow” or “someone spills their hot chocolate.” Some of my favorite Christmas movies include Home Alone (both one and two), Elf, A Christmas Story, and A Year Without Santa Claus.
While your favorite holiday traditions might look a little different at college, they can easily bring just as much joy. Holidays at college are all about creating new memories with new friends and finding comfort and fun in little things. If your friend group is planning on doing some sort of gift exchange, here are some great ideas that won’t break the bank.