The remenants of the blizzard on a tree outside Semple Hall. (Photo courtesy of Harper Vincent)

As soon as the leftover turkey is wrapped up in the fridge and the dishes are washed I am in full-blown Christmas mode.

Are you still not feeling the holiday spirit? No worries – I tested some holiday activities over Thanksgiving break and ranked the best ways to turn any Scrooge into a Santa.

Each Christmas activity I have ranked on my own personal spirit Spirit Scale:

1. Scrooge (pre-spiritual visitations, of course) – This activity makes me want to say “Bah, humbug.”
2. Walter Hobbs – Might be on the naughty list, but there is still hope. After all, Walter Hobbs is the father of Buddy the Elf.
3. Pine Tree –Borderline Christmasy. Add some ornaments and it becomes festive. Lose the ornaments and it’s just a tree.
4. Elf – Basically the assistant manager of Christmas.
5. Santa – The maximum Christmas spirit possible.

Christmas Shopping – Rank: Pine Tree

I love to buy gifts for my family and browsing all the new merchandise stores have put out. Giving gifts you know will be well-received is such an exciting feeling. I prefer to only shop in store for presents since brick and mortar stores play Christmas music and provide the full holiday experience.

Frustrations such as parking during the busy holiday season and not being able to find the perfect gift are factors that knocked shopping down to a pine tree.

Drinking a Peppermint Mocha – Rank: Elf

Holiday drinks have arrived at Starbucks and I had to go get myself my favorite – a classic peppermint mocha. I usually prefer to support local coffee shops, but there is something unique about the Starbucks peppermint mocha. The chocolate flavor is richened by the espresso and the cool peppermint syrup makes the drink taste like hot liquid December. The beautiful holiday print cups are essentially wrapping paper on a drinkable Christmas present.

Don’t like coffee? Try a peppermint hot chocolate instead. It will be sure to warm your heart and lift your spirits.

Picking out a Christmas Tree – Rank: Elf

My family and I pick out a fresh Christmas tree every year, and it always puts me in the Christmas spirit. I recommend visiting a tree farm even if it isn’t feasible for you to take one home. The smell of pine needles rivals the scent of gingerbread baking and seeing all those trees anxious to be adorned in ornaments will fill you with joy.

Listening to Christmas Music – Rank: Santa

This is the only guaranteed way to turn a Scrooge into a Santa. However, Christmas music must be listened to properly to ensure maximum benefits.

Never listen to Christmas music on the radio – it will be bad. I recommend creating a playlist with the type of music you listened to growing up. There’s nothing like nostalgia to awaken your holiday spirit. The stereo at my house has always cycled between Amy Grant, Céline Dion and Jaci Velasquez CDs so those artists are heavily represented in my FaLaLolidays Spotify playlist.

“Peppermint Winter” by Owl City and “Puppies are Forever” by Sia are two more contemporary favorites that I add. You also can’t go wrong with anything by Michael Bublé or Pentatonix.

Watching a Christmas Movie – Rank: Santa

I was fortunate enough to get to watch my all time favorite Christmas movie in the middle of a blizzard. There are few things more Christmasy than being snuggled into blankets while “A Christmas Story” plays and the snow falls outside.

My other favorite Christmas movies are “Elf” and “Christmas with the Kranks.” Most people can quote “Elf” but few have seen “Christmas with the Kranks.” I recommend watching both this December – I sure will.

Christmas is about taking a break from the hustle of life and appreciating spending time with family and friends. I love to keep up traditions because they remind me of past holidays spent with the people I love. No matter what you do to get yourself in the Christmas spirit, doing it with those you care about will make it much more effective.

Photo courtesy of Harper Vincent. 

A cup of Christmas cocoa.

I am definitely one of those people who considers it the holiday season as soon as November begins, and this year was no different.

I broke out my heavier sweaters the day the temperature dropped, recklessly layering up only to suffer in Jewell Hall’s warm classrooms.

Nevertheless, it was worth it.

I love the copious amounts of Christmas decorations. I adore Christmas trees and lights. This time of year, I drink a lot of hot chocolate and eat mince pies.

My favorite part of pre-holiday celebrations, though, is bad Christmas movies.

I have a particular favorite. Several, actually, depending on my mood. There’s something particularly endearing and awful about Christmas movies in general, but the worst – the most cliché, random, over-the-top – are my absolute favorite.

Part of the appeal lies in the sheer amusement I get out of watching bad Christmas films. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a fan of the classics, like “The Grinch” or “Home Alone,” but those obscure Christmas movies at the bottom of Netflix or Hulu’s suggestions? Those are the best.

I can’t completely explain why they appeal to me beyond their capacity to entertain.

Maybe it’s refreshing and comforting to see something embellish the Christmas experience? Or maybe it’s nice to see alternate realities where the holidays are joyful gatherings unimpeded by the overarching dread of discussing or considering our nation’s political state.

Maybe it’s really not that deep.

Regardless, if you’re getting sick of the cold, or reluctant to leave your dorm, and you don’t want to face the heaping piles of assignments on your desk, I highly recommend watching cheesy Christmas movies.

The best movie-watching experience for these, in my opinion, is with the lights off, wearing Christmas sweaters and drinking hot chocolate. Ideally, there’d be no classwork to consider, but who am I kidding? Jewell stops for no one, not even the snow.

If you’re looking for some good hot chocolate, Target has an excellent selection wherein you can find, among other brands, Starbucks hot chocolate. The store also features a range of gaudy Christmas sweaters, perfect for setting the mood –and for hoarding sweaters, if you’re anything like me.

There are plenty of bad Christmas movies out there ready for your enjoyment – and you don’t have to do much to find them.

If you’re looking for an absolutely atrocious holiday film, I’d recommend “The Back-Up Bride,” featured on Amazon Prime. If you’re a student, you can get six months free for the first time you sign up!

Photo courtesy of Italian Sons & Daughters of America.

Dunder-Mifflin paper salesman Stanley Hudson expresses his excitement to feast upon pies.

Unfortunately positioned between Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving often receives much less excitement than Halloween and Christmas. For many, on Nov. 1 the witch hats are cast aside and the Christmas lights are immediately strung up. While I, too, adore the holiday season, and I enjoy singing loudly along to Michael Buble’s Christmas album, I think that Thanksgiving as a holiday is not given enough credit.

The third Thursday in November is devoted to food and family and usually naps – all excellent indicators of a swell time. And yet for much of the holiday season, Christmas gets almost all the hype, while poor Thanksgiving gets overlooked.

Here are some reasons why everyone should stop appreciate Thanksgiving a little more.

Thanksgiving food is superior in all respects.

Stating the obvious, Thanksgiving food is truly wonderful. This brilliant holiday is centered largely around food and for many the food preparation can take multiple days. The food options are extensive and the number of side dishes is usually lengthy. How many side dishes are there actually supposed to be? Because my family usually averages around nine. There really is something for everyone. Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce (which is excellent homemade, rather than from the can), turkey, stuffing, ham, rolls and countless pies – basically all of the glorious carbs. Also, let’s not forget about how good Thanksgiving leftovers are.

Unlike Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving isn’t overly commercialized.

Obviously, Christmas is all about the gifts, which is a festive and enjoyable tradition – but sometimes expensive and stressful. Halloween is also heavily commercialized. According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween spending for 2018 was predicted to reach $9 billion. Households were planning on spending more than last year. More than 175 million Americans planned on partaking in Halloween and the average of $86.13 household spending in 2017 was predicted to rise to $86.79 for 2018. Thanksgiving is a nice break between the two where no one is asking you to buy anything for them: there are just requests for additional pumpkin pie.

Additionally, I am purposely not including Black Friday as a part of the Thanksgiving. For then Thanksgiving would indeed be commercialized. I have no problem with Black Friday, I think it is a festive beginning to the gifts and pizzazz of the holiday season. However, I think it is somewhat unfortunate that Black Friday is starting earlier and earlier every year. At this point, many stores are open on the evening of Thanksgiving day. Having Black Friday begin on Thanksgiving day infringes on Thanksgiving festivities and takes family time away from employees who have to work at the stores who participate in Black Friday.

Excluding Black Friday as part of Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is less about things and more about family and friends (and food).

Time off from work and school to see your family and friends.

Personally, I love any excuse not to have class and to see my family and friends. Thanksgiving is a time to reconnect with family. Also gathering more popularity, Friendsgiving is a wonderful time to appreciate your pals and gather together over food.

Naps and casual attire are acceptable.

Naps during Thanksgiving day seem more readily accepted than any other holiday. Do you need to sleep in preparation for excessive food? Okay! Do you need to nap after all of the pie? Go for it! Everyone loves a good food coma induced nap. Also, the dress code is open. Some dress up for Thanksgiving and that is great. Some people wear pants with an elastic waist so they can eat more – to each their own.

Thanksgiving Traditions

Another thing about Thanksgiving is all the somewhat random traditions and recreational activities to partake in. Some families do the Turkey Trot and run 5K and then guiltlessly consume five pies – I’m all for it. For many others, Thanksgiving means watching football and the Macy’s Day parade together. Personally, I am a fan of the National Dog Show. If I have the opportunity to watch adorable pups instead of football, then you better believe I will take it.

It’s a good time to reflect and appreciate.

Not to sound like an 80 year-old man, but we could all do with being a little more thankful. In college it is exceedingly easy to focus on yourself, all the work you need to do, all the debt you’ve compiled and all the hours of sleep you haven’t gotten. Not to be cliche, but Thanksgiving really is a good time to reflect and say “Damn, I’ve got it okay.” If you are going to a private, liberal arts college, chances are you are doing better than a majority of America.

Photo courtesy of Reddit.