With Thanksgiving now behind us, and Christmas quickly approaching, it’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of Christmas activities – starting with the Black Friday sales and constant display of decorations throughout towns and malls! On a college budget, lavish holiday parties are out of the question, but there are simple ways to get together with your friends before winter break begins.
Dessert potlucks are even easier because who doesn’t enjoy making cookies in the shapes of gingerbread men? Cookies paired with chocolates and hot apple cider are sure to make for a scrumptious evening.
I’m sure most of us have heard of White Elephant gift exchanges — a personal favorite of mine. While there are many variations, the general premise consists of having a group of people engage in rivalries over gifts. With a diminishing budget going into the holidays, these gifts are generally under $10 and incredibly tacky and often distasteful. Over the years I have seen several inappropriate gift ideas, but they always make for a humorous evening with friends.
Finally, the most common are the Tacky Sweater parties. I have accumulated at least five incredibly heinous sweaters ranging from dancing penguins to light up reindeers. It is fun to get in the holiday spirit by dressing in the most ridiculous attire possible. It is amazing how easy it is to find candy cane colored leggings, earrings with jingle bells, and fuzzy over-the-top Santa hats.