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9 Ways That Celebrating Christmas In College Is Different From Being Home For The Holidays

It's a little sad when traditions change.

reimmarzen

Dec 03, 2018

Elon University

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9 Ways That Celebrating Christmas In College Is Different From Being Home For The Holidays

Reilly Marzen

As a lover of all things Christmas, I notice the changes in holiday traditions and other tiny aspects of the holiday season. Being in college for a good part of the Christmas season is obviously going to be different, which is unfortunate when those little parts of the season are what make it so great. There are many cool things that come along with being in college during the holidays, such as spending more time with friends than usual. But it's still a bit sad when traditions change. These differences are not the end of the whole, but they do change the holiday feeling just a little bit.

1. You 're not with your family for a good part of it.

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Coming from a family that has a TON of family-based holiday traditions, it's definitely weird not being home for some of them. For example, the weekend after Thanksgiving, my dad would play Christmas music really loud to wake the whole family up. While sometimes it does interfere with my sleep, it's always a nice introduction into the fuzzy feeling of the holiday season.

2. When it's freezing outside, you still have to DO STUFF instead of wrapping yourself in blankets and watching a movie.

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This is the WORST! I for one despise the cold and want nothing to do with it, which is funny considering I'm from the Northeast. However, when I go home, at least I can relax and cuddle up in blankets when it's freezing outside. At school, especially during finals season, there's so much to do, and you have to walk in the frigid air to get there! Not a fan.

3. Speaking of the cold, it's absolutely frigid outside, yet there's no snow. Thanks, North Carolina

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Seriously, what is with the lack of snow? I understand that it doesn't snow as often down here, but if the temperature is already below freezing, why not just throw some flurries in there? No wonder it doesn't feel like Christmas season yet.

4. "Holiday season" doesn't sound as exciting when it directly overlaps with "FINALS season"

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It's really not fair that finals happen around this time too. This further limits the ability to actually enjoy the holiday season because everyone is too stressed out about the upcoming papers and projects and tests they have to take. It's a crime against nature.

5. It doesn't smell like Christmas anywhere!

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Another thing about the South... where are the pine trees? Pine trees are what make the air smell so fantastic when it gets cold out, and it makes me excited for the upcoming holidays. Without them, it just smells like nothingness.

6. Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas aren't a priority anymore

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Remember the good old days when you would finish your dinner and the entire family would watch a Christmas movie together. Yeah, that doesn't happen in college. You can't even do it by yourself with all of the homework you have to get done.

7. Gift exchanges aren't as popular because everyone is on a college student's budget

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The holidays are also expensive! Everything costs money. My friends in college love each other very much but we're living on college student budgets, meaning that we can't buy presents for everyone. It's the thought that counts though.

8. "Christmas parties" have a different meaning

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A Christmas party in college is way different than a Christmas party at home. Christmas party at home means dressing up fancy, decorating the house extravagantly. and serving hors d'oeuvres to the guests. In college, "Christmas party" means wearing a red crop-top to go out to a frat party where they're playing rap remixes to the best holiday classics. It's still quite an experience, just very different from home.

9. There's not as much time for all of the fun holiday traditions, like decorating your room or baking cookies.

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Again with finals limiting the time for fun holiday activities. Instead of making those fun store-bought holiday sugar cookies and decorating a tiny tree for the living room, I have to study. Not fun.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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9 Ways That Celebrating Christmas In College Is Different From Being Home For The Holidays

It's a little sad when traditions change.

1. You 're not with your family for a good part of it.

2. When it's freezing outside, you still have to DO STUFF instead of wrapping yourself in blankets and watching a movie.

3. Speaking of the cold, it's absolutely frigid outside, yet there's no snow. Thanks, North Carolina

4. "Holiday season" doesn't sound as exciting when it directly overlaps with "FINALS season"

5. It doesn't smell like Christmas anywhere!

6. Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas aren't a priority anymore

7. Gift exchanges aren't as popular because everyone is on a college student's budget

8. "Christmas parties" have a different meaning

9. There's not as much time for all of the fun holiday traditions, like decorating your room or baking cookies.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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