Three Baker College students wearing festive holiday sweaters
The holiday season is upon us! Nothing is better than eating tons of turkeys, watching holiday movies, creating snowmen, spending too much on Black Friday, or seeing the ones you love. While the holiday seasons have so many great activities and traditions to experience, this is the first time college students are away from home for the holiday season.
To ensure students don’t hit the exam season-holiday blues, I asked my Owosso Residence Hall students about their favorite holiday traditions with their families. Hopefully, this list sparks some holly jolly magic and lets you create traditions with your roommates and loved ones.
Tradition: Playing Card Games Every Thanksgiving
Resident Kaylee Brown shared that every Thanksgiving, she plays Cards Against Humanity with her family. This is a great way to digest that delicious Thanksgiving meal with some good laughs and quality time with the family.
Tradition: Going Black Friday Shopping with Parents or Friends
One resident shared that during Black Friday holiday sales every year, she gets up in the early morning hours to go shopping for Black Friday. She loves the excitement in the air, the adrenaline of being up so early, and getting great deals on awesome gifts for her friends and family. It is a bonus that she gets to celebrate this crazy ‘holiday’ with her mom.
Tradition: Watching Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas
One of RHC Aubrey Foldi’s favorite holiday traditions is watching the nightly Christmas movie on Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas. As big movie fans, Aubrey’s family loves to pile into the living room with junk food, enjoy famous Christmas movies, and relive childhood nostalgia. This is a great tradition to start with your friends at Baker!
Tradition: Opening a Present on Christmas Eve
Resident Meah Wood states that one of her favorite holiday traditions is opening one present on Christmas Eve. Despite knowing the present is the family pajamas, the excitement never goes away. Try coordinating Christmas pajamas with your friends at Baker.
Tradition: Cutting Down a Christmas Tree Every Year
Resident Alex Naser told me that every year his family goes and cuts down their Christmas tree for the year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Alex enjoys supporting the local tree farm and picking a new tree every year. While students should not bring a live tree into their dorm room, getting a mini (fake) Christmas tree with their roommates is a great way to spread the holiday spirit.
Tradition: Lighting a Menorah and Baking German Pastries
Resident Emily Rice celebrates Hanukkah and lights the Menorah for eight days. Emily also connects to her German heritage by making a traditional German pastry every year. Sharing your culture and traditions is a great way to educate the people around you.
Tradition: Christmas Morning with Family
When polling residents, most of them stated they enjoy spending time with their families on Christmas morning the best. Resident Alaina Perry even said that her whole family gets up early to cook breakfast together. These moments of quality time may seem small to some, but these are the first memories that come to mind when thinking of traditions.
Tradition: Family Sing-Along Carols
Resident Lisa Lor shared the cutest tradition. With many young nieces and nephews, Lisa’s family puts on holiday songs for all the young family members to Sing-Along to. Lisa loves watching the children bring joy into the house with their sweet little singing voices.
Tradition: Experiences over Presents
Resident Morgan Nickens shared that her family prefers to give experiences over physical presents. This way, the family makes memories together while getting to travel the world. Morgan is thankful for the opportunity to see most of the country and plans on branching out of the country soon.
Tradition: Holly Jolly Farm Animals
Resident Nick Bergeron ensures that everyone in his community gets into the holiday spirit. Nick likes to put Christmas hats on his cows! Since he has multiple cows, each cow gets a hat to “wear” for the holiday spirit.
Tradition: Unique Foods
Traditional foods may come to mind when people think of holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Turkey, ham, and mashed potatoes are some of the more popular courses to serve. Several residents have stated that their families think outside the box and serve more “non-traditional” foods. Resident Karleigh Porter serves finger foods during Christmas. Resident Kelsey Brace shares fondue with her close ones on Christmas Eve. Resident Lucas Francisco mentioned that his family loves grilling, so they grill different meats and veggies to enjoy during their celebrations. Maybe start a new food tradition with your Baker community.
