I’ll begin with an important announcement. Christmas is only 68 days away. You’re probably thinking, “Doesn’t she mean Halloween is only two weeks away?” Nope! Now you’re thinking, “Oh no, she’s probably one of those Type-A, plan-way-ahead people.” Wrong on both counts, though I am also really stoked for Halloween! In fact, I can’t deny having considered dressing up as a Christmas tree for Halloween. What can I say? I’m just a lover of holidays and maybe a little overenthusiastic. But in my defense, this excitement is not totally out of the blue and definitely not unfounded.
If you haven’t heard Christmas music, seen Christmas displays in stores or read several tweets about the approaching winter holiday, you probably only listen to the same one playlist on your iPhone — and definitely not on shuffle, because any legitimate iTunes library would contain at least one Christmas carol. Either that or you don’t shop ever — not even at the grocery store — and follow no one on Twitter. The signs of the season are all around.
Before I get too wrapped up in my own ribbon, or enthusiasm, let’s get something clearer than white Christmas lights. I don’t discriminate. I love all holidays, especially Hanukkah, though we have a bit of a troubled past — primarily because of the time I almost set a fire in my best friend’s house while attempting to light the Menorah.
But I like to think that one mishap is overruled by the fact that my grandparents have been putting Menorahs in their windows for several decades because they thought they were beautiful candelabras. They were just celebrating a pre-O.C. version of Chrismukkah all along. No, but really, I love latkes, playing dreidel and the fact that the holiday lasts eight nights. Eight nights — eight times better than your average holiday! What’s not to love? Not to mention the significance of the holiday is quite touching too.
Generally, college students get distracted by the holidays during finals, not midterms, but I’m not your average college student, and you’re not either. If you haven’t started making your wish list, you’re more behind than that time I waited to do half of a semester’s worth of reading until two days before the midterm — oh wait, that’s right now.
Maybe you need reminding about why Christmas is the best thing ever — after all it’s been 10 months. Christmas decorations are the greatest. Who doesn’t love twinkling lights? But at this point, I have a confession: My roommate and I are the kind of people who keep our Christmas lights up all year round — though out of season, they’re “fiesta lights.”
In more yuletide awesomeness, it’s totally normal to have a tree inside — so cool! Whether your favorite Christmas song is Bieber’s masterpiece/sacrilege “Drummer Boy” featuring Busta Rhymes or the more classic Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas,” you can’t deny the universal appeal of Christmas jams. But a word to the wise: Don’t listen to Christmas carols while studying for finals; eventually, it’ll ruin the songs for you.
Moreover, the freezing temperatures aren’t even enough to get you down, when your heart is warmed by the sights, sounds and scents of the season. The world smells of pine, peppermint and Christmas cookies, which undoubtedly smell and taste better than your regular homemade variety.
Alright, that’s enough of the materialistic, superficial reasons I love Christmas. Santa, if you’re reading this, I’d like you to pay special attention from here on out. Everyone just seems to be in a better mood around the holiday season. Think about every U.Va. student’s favorite celebration: Lighting of the Lawn. Everyone bundles up to watch a capella groups perform, hear a poem recitation and see someone flick a switch, but no one complains. It’s about the U.Va. community and all things good.
Excluding those angry women with rocks in their purse trying to get the best shopping deals, the whole Christian world is all about love during the Christmas season. It’s the good kind of love, not that vomitrocious, fleeting couple’s love omnipresent around Valentine’s Day. People leave behind their selfish attitudes and focus on generosity. That’s a beautiful and rare thing in this world.
So, wake up, and smell the pine, folks! Quit stressing about midterms, and focus on what’s really important — start picking out your tacky sweaters, and get that eggnog fermenting. Christmas is coming, and you’ll hear reindeer on the roof before you know it.
Abbi’s column runs biweekly Wednesdays. She can be reached at a.sigler@cavalierdaily.com.
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