As the Holiday season is finally upon us, how are you going to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year? We’re getting older, exams are getting harder, and there are more and more things to worry about this time of year, making it feel less like the Christmas we knew and loved as kids. But fear not, because there are plenty of ways you and your friends can enjoy the St Andrews Christmas season and get back into the festive spirit! Here are some Christmas-y things to do before the well-deserved break finally begins.
Secret Santa Gift Swap
A Secret Santa is pretty easy to set up, and is always a good time. All you have to do is gather your friend group and randomly assign each person someone for whom they will buy a gift. There are a number of websites that can do this for you, DrawNames being a popular one. You can also add guidelines like “nothing over £10” or “must be homemade” to make sure everyone is on the same budget page, or simply to spice things up. This is a great way to get to know your friends’ likes and dislikes better, and plus – you get a gift out of it too. I partook in the Environment Subcommittee’s Sustainable Secret Santa, a great event that involved sustainable and environmentally-friendly gift giving. This taught me to think outside the box, and I recommend trying a waste-free gift swap!
Edinburgh Christmas Market
This activity does require a day trip out of St. Andrews, but it’s definitely worth it. The Edinburgh Christmas Market is known worldwide, and is truly an iconic place to experience Christmas! They have ice skating, rides, cute shops, and delicious food. You’ll also get the chance to shop for gifts for your family back home while taking adorable Christmas-y pictures for all your Instagram desires!
Christmas Dinner Potluck
A Christmas dinner potluck is a great way to enjoy a festive evening with friends, without making just one person do all the work! Have everyone bring one dish, so you can have a low-effort Christmas dinner. Prepare a Christmas music playlist, make sure everyone comes donned in festive attire, and prepare for a fun night ahead!
Shopping for Christmas Decor
There are plenty of places to buy Christmas-themed items here in town – from the constantly festive design of Farmore Interiors to stationery stores like Paperchase, which often has great deals during the holiday season. Most importantly, though, we have a new year-round Christmas store! The St Andrews Christmas shop stands out on the street as a beacon of Christmas cheer, blasting holiday tunes and decked out in red and green. Check out the shops around town to get Christmas decorations for your flat, and make sure to set them up with friends.
Christmas Karaoke
What could be more festive than Christmas music? You don’t need a karaoke machine to do Christmas karaoke, you just need instrumental versions of Christmas songs on YouTube – and suddenly you have a karaoke party! Challenge your friends to see if they know all the words to the Christmas classics (and modern classics). Including a festive cocktail or mulled wine isn’t a bad idea either!
Although it’s sometimes hard to feel that festive cheer during the stress of exam season, you deserve to get out there and do something to celebrate all your hard work this semester. Happy holidays!