Students share their holiday highlights and hot takes

By Annie Ram

From Christmas cookie cardboard to Halloween betrayal, Memorial students have some unique and enthusiastic opinions when it comes to the holidays. We decided to explore Memorial students’ outlooks on the upcoming holiday season and some favorite traditions, as many of us are already getting into the holiday spirit.

Radio Insight reports that over 24 radio stations across the country switched to playing Christmas music on November 1st. This may seem like a relatively small number considering the size of the U.S., but most of us agree that holiday music and decorations should be reserved for after Thanksgiving only in order to honor the holiday and ensure we don’t get sick of “Jingle Bell Rock” by the 1st week of December.

“I think that it’s appropriate to listen to Christmas music after Thanksgiving, because my family does celebrate it, and by already listening to Christmas music before, it mainly overlooks the holiday,” explains Mya Hayes.

Other students don’t mind holiday music or decorations in November, so long as it does not impede their Halloween festivities.

“November 1st is the appropriate time to start decorating for Christmas. Anytime sooner is heinous and an attack on Halloween,” claims Mirabai Rickert, a huge Halloween enthusiast.

Still others cannot get enough of it, like one student who spends one week in the middle of summer, “Christmas in July,” enjoying her favorite Christmas tunes.

As for the songs themselves, many students agree that they do not appreciate the more recent pop renditions.

“I’m not really interested in listening to Ariana Grande sing about hot santas or whatever, but I’ll definitely listen to the soundtrack of Home Alone,” reports Elsie Lemahieu. However, several students noted Mariah Carey as one of their favorite holiday music artists.

When it comes to the holiday season in general, Memorial offered some wise insight. When asked about the season’s best and worst aspects, several students touched on excessive holiday spending and the commercialization of the larger holidays. Others mentioned the loss of original values, however it was brought up that this isn’t always so bad.

“That, I think, is sometimes okay, because it allows people without a faith and those who aren’t in touch with any certain culture to celebrate this time of year,” explains Mirabai Rickert.

A surprising number of students mentioned the dread they feel about being constantly surrounded by extended family during the winter months. In fact, almost as many students expressed anxiety about spending time with strange relatives as those who conveyed excitement about being with family this season—a humorous and rather peculiar finding.

That being said, those who did report the joy they find in making memories with loved ones often stated that it is their absolute favorite thing about the season.

One student reminds us of an extremely important yet often overlooked aspect of the holidays: sensitivity. “Holidays are cool, although sometimes it’s hard because there are different religious beliefs, so some people celebrate different things or don’t celebrate at all,” she says.

She also conveys that the holiday season may stir up difficult emotions for those who have lost loved ones or have dealt with other hardships, as these holidays are often rich in memories. “…sometimes circumstances out of your control make it less enjoyable for sure,” she explains.

It is necessary we understand that though this season is typically very cheerful and bright, we are all going through different things, and some of us may need a little extra love and support this time of year.

When it comes to holiday traditions and other opinions, Memorial has some very wacky ones — most of them relating to Christmas. Regarding holiday movies, some favorites include Home Alone, Rise of the Guardians, and Jingle All the Way. “I have to watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation every year and also Christmas with the Kranks,” remarks one student.

While some students are die-hard holiday movie fans, Elsie Lemahieu diverts that passion to Christmas trees, “…NO CRUSTY FAKE ONES I DONT CARE IF IT SHEDS ON YOUR FLOOR THAT IS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE!” Elsie writes.

Concerning food and treats, Helen Muehlenkamp loves her family’s Christmas Eve nachos, and Lily Kurth feels very strongly about gingerbread cookies, making the bold statement: “Gingerbread cookies are arguably a terrible void of flavor and should not be consumed.”

It is clear that we have all grown up cherishing unique traditions, and we have developed our own individual preferences. One thing Memorial ultimately agrees on, however, is that the holiday season is the perfect opportunity for us to reflect on what’s important, to laugh, make new memories, and to express gratitude for the people we love. “You get to show generosity by giving/receiving gifts, and it’s a good time to reconnect with friends/family,” says Ellie Swartz.

In regards to the holiday spirit, one student said it best: “…its best aspect is being able to put a smile on someone else’s face.”