Can you believe many of us will be done exams in a month?! Slowly campus will start to resemble a ghost town as students head home for the holidays. I think back to elementary school where we spent most of November cutting, pasting and colouring wall art to help mark the many varied holy days in November and December. It really made me feel part of something special. Once I hit high school the wall art went away, but, signs of the seasons could be seen everywhere. Now here I am at university spending most of my time on campus, and I must say, that sparkle hasn’t started to shine. Bah humbug!
It doesn’t have to be that way. Why not bring some of that special magic from your childhood here to Waterloo? Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa or want to enjoy the festive spirit there are tons of DIY projects along with campus and K-W Cambridge events to set the mood!
Let’s start with the obvious, your room and your residence. Decorating your room is a main way to get in the holiday spirit. Bringing that warm and cozy in-from-the-cold theme isn’t hard to do thanks to the flood of cost-effective flameless candles on the market. If ‘fireside’ decorations aren’t your thing, how about a winter theme like snowmen, snow flakes or winter animals? Here’s a great DIY snowman. Or perhaps add some pine needles and pine combs to your bookshelf? This allows you to leave your decorations well into January and February – avoiding the title of “one of those people” that still have Christmas lights well after December! Seasonal decorations are a great way to spruce up (no pun intended) your room or floor without spending a lot of money or having the need to change it often. Don’t forget clothing and school supplies have loads of options too. There are scarves (knit infinity ones are my weakness), hats, mittens, sweaters, socks and boots to match any theme out there! The dollar store has loads of theme related pens, pencils and other school supplies that’ll show your festive spirit.
Additionally, make sure to get your friends and floor involved (any excuse for a cute insta post)! Try a game of dreidel in your residence recreation room – you don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate the religious choice of others and partake in their fun traditions. Or how about turning on music and having a game of Mamba? Do you like surprises? Perhaps a Secret Santa gift exchange will satisfy your craving. To make it more interesting have it be mandatory that all gifts be bought somewhere on campus! There are lots of fun activities to help celebrate traditions of all religions.Now that your room, residence and wardrobe are taken care of, it’s time to go out and celebrate! You’re in luck, there are many activities on and around campus to satisfy your holiday desire. How about the excitement of a Santa Claus Parade at night? This Saturday, November 15th the FEDS have teamed up again this year with the City of Cambridge to offer all things Christmas. Whether it’s skating on the indoor rink, seeing a movie (hopefully Elf), going shopping or getting a front row seat at the region’s only night time Santa Claus Parade, this event has it all. The FEDS have even arranged transportation to and from Cambridge, talk about perks of being a waterloo student! Contact FEDS ICSN for details on tickets. Additionally, several FEDS Clubs and Organizations around campus host different events this time of year.
Looking for adventure? Why not try geocaching for something unique. Last year they offered a Kwanzaa celebration trek. The Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life is another great place to check out. It offers a bunch of activities throughout the year and never disappoints during the holiday season.
With so much to do, the next four weeks are going to fly by. Although I’m looking forward to the comforts of home I’m going to bring out my inner child and enjoy everything this city has to offer first. To quote Betty Black, “This time of year means being kind to everyone we meet, to share a smile with strangers we may pass along the street.”