For whatever reason, college affords many students a reason to throw conventionality out the window and act rather, shall we say… unreasonably. Binge drinking, sleepless study nights, and caffeine and sugar-dominated diets are just a few of these collegiate habits that come to mind. While the following “traditions” are not entirely unique to such a college mindset, they are predominantly featured in such environments throughout the country. While some might deem them tacky or distasteful, I, for one, would love to see them return to fashion for the rest of us.
The Overdone Light Job: Whether it be strung all over a house, on a miniature Christmas tree, or throughout a cramped apartment, I’ve seen some light displays on campuses that give Vegas a run for its money. While such ornate displays are undoubtedly a fire hazard given the likelihood of short-circuiting the lone electrical socket all the lights are daisy-chained to, there’s nothing like being able to illuminate your entire living space without the use of a conventional light bulb. So break out those icicle strands, those blinking blue LEDs, the traditional rainbow bulbs, and any other Christmas lights you’ve got collecting dust in your attic and put them to good use. The tackier, the better.
Holiday Drinks with a Real Bite: Sure, champagne might be the traditional drink of choice to toast to the New Years with, and perhaps sipping on a glass of red wine is the classy way to spend Christmas Eve, but I propose we get back to the times when our holiday beverages served to separate the lightweights from the late-night champions. Eggnog? Spike that with a heavy dose of rum. Cider? Throw some more rum in that, too. Hot Cocoa? You can’t go wrong by dumping some peppermint schnapps in there. Get creative– any drink you’re sipping on this Holiday Season should be consumed with the intention to ‘enhance’ your holiday experience. As the great Sonny Koufax (Adam Sandler) shared with his kindergarten compadres in the 90s classic Big Daddy, “We all love Yoo-hoo, especially Yoo-hoo with a little rum…”
The Multiple Christmas Tree Look: Now this one might be a bit less widespread than the previous two, but my house always had at least 4 or 5 Christmas trees sprinkled throughout to help spread the holiday cheer (Yeah, I lived in a frat house). Let me tell you, there is no better way to say, ‘I dig the Holiday Season’ then by filling your house with the smell of pine trees and sap, so make sure these babies are the real things, not those tame, plastic imitators. The living and dining rooms are a given, but got an empty corner in your bathroom? Throw a tree in there. How about that spot on top of your refrigerator? Yeah, throw a mini-tree up there too. And aside from embracing the holiday spirit, more space under your trees could mean more presents for everyone.
So if you’ve made it through this whole post, hats off to you– you’re clearly as committed to tacky decorations and a crude approach to the holiday season as I am. Spice up your holiday traditions with a much-needed punch of lighting, alcohol, and natural air fresheners. Your mom and dad might not agree with it, but they probably wouldn’t agree with the majority of the decisions you made back in college either. Why stop now just because we graduated and moved onto the ‘real world?’ (And for pete’s sake, drink responsibly.)
