Holiday Edition

WHere are you going for the holidays?

What do you want for christmas?

Christmas in Covid

How FiLipinos Celebrate Christmas

Holiday Cookie Guide

Students returning to campus!

The History Of Christmas I Holiday Edition

Places To Go For The Holidays

The current pandemic has stopped many people around the world from travelling. But now that we are close to being 2 years in, things are starting to normalize. So here’s a list of 4 places to go

FRANCE

France is a great place to visit for a great number of reasons. The food is great (besides the smelly cheese), the Alps are scenic and picturesque as well as being great for skiing, and the language is beautiful and poetic.

And did I mention the Eiffel tower?

TOKyo

If you’re more of the big city type, then the largest city in the world should satisfy your interests. There’s the food (Tokyo has the most michelin-starred restaurants in the world), a literal ramen museum, a look into Japanese culture, and more.

ROME

Rome is also a wonderful city with many places of interest. There’s the Vatican, the Colosseum, the restaurants (and by extension the food), the Pantheon, the Sistine Chapel, and a million other places that will surely make your trip incredible.

Dubai

Dubai is one of the most stunning cities in the world. There are endless attractions, including the museums, the malls, the mosques, the Ski Dubai, the beaches, and, of course, the Burj Khalifa. And to think that just 50 years ago the most popular attractions were sand, sand, and more sand.

Christmas Parols

Maddi S.

Filipinos love the holidays, a reason to celebrate. But Christmas, with many being Catholic or Christian, is one of, if not their favorite holiday. They start splurging on gifts for loved ones, decorating their homes as if they were gingerbread cookies months before December, and spending time with their family for the holidays. There’s no denying the love Filipinos have for Christmas. Months before Christmas even starts, unusually starting September, it is considered Christmas already with Filipinos already preparing and celebrating, with Christmas lights and ornaments on their trees and decorations in their house.

One of Filipinos most popular ornaments, which can only be found in the Philippines, are Christmas Parols. Christmas parols are Filipino ornamental lanterns, meant to be displayed on one’s door for the Christmas season. These parols are usually made with bamboo and Japanese paper. It came from the word, “Farol” which in Spanish means “light” or “lantern”. Parols were first invented by Francisco Estanislao during the Spanish colonization in the Philippines. He was the first to make the first giant five-pointed star parol. It was used to represent how their homes are ready and open for Jesus Christ, with Christianity being introduced to Filipinos by the Spaniards.

Many assume Christmas parols are just for display, however, there are so many benefits it provides for local Filipinos during Christmas time. They are much more than just an ornament for your door. Christmas parols are being sold during the Christmas season, benefiting locals who made them and making it a business. This can help sustain Filipinos during a busy time of the year where they can make a profit and spend their hours making parols as well as for the holiday spirit. Another great aspect of Christmas parols is that it is sustainable for the environment since many are made with recyclable plastic bottles, which is great for the environment. There are so many things parols have to offer for the Philippines, symbolizing the joy Filipinos have when celebrating Christmas.

Things To Do During The Holidays

Stefano R.

Christmas is coming up so why not give some ideas on what to do during the holiday season with friends and family.

Watch Holiday Movies

Black-and-white classics that will leave you misty-eyed under the mistletoe to slapstick holiday favorites that will make the whole family jolly, there is no shortage of excellent Christmas movies for any crowd to enjoy. Gather your buddies or snuggle up solo for a Christmas Day viewing experience that promises plenty of holiday vibes, and pairs well with a hot beverage to boot. Not sure which film to choose? Consult our list of Christmas classics and you’re guaranteed to find a feel-good film for audiences of all ages.

Clean Up and Donate

What better way to get into the holiday spirit on Christmas Day than by giving back? But if you’re suddenly inspired to volunteer, keep in mind that most nonprofits get inundated around the holidays and actually need help at other points in the year. Instead, make room for your new loot by working your best Marie Kondo magic and then donating gently used items to organizations that need it like the Salvation Army, Dress for Success, Goodwill, and Soles4Souls. Not only will it feel great to free up some space in the closet, but scientific research shows that kindness makes people happier.

Cook A Holiday Day Feast

The holidays are all about being with loved ones, and what better way to bring people together than with a massive amount of mouth-watering food. You’ve had a solid month to recover from Thanksgiving, so get your oven mitts back on and round up your support team for a few hours in the kitchen. The payoff will be an Insta-worthy spread and a delicious, indulgent meal fit for the occasion and made all the better by the company you share it with.

Build A Gingerbread House

This classic holiday activity is an excellent way to spend time with the family, and a particularly kid-friendly craft to boot. The hands-on project is sure to keep everyone entertained after the frenzied present-opening rush has passed and the future snacking potential promises to keep the holiday spirit alive for at least another couple of days. Hint: For an extra challenge, try your hand at gingerbread houses after you’ve done a Christmas lights tour of your neighborhood so you can try to recreate some of your favorite decorations.

There are many more things to do during Christmas, I hope this list helps you and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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