The holiday season is finally upon us. The first week or so of December all the streets and houses transform into little winter wonderlands. If you are in the city, you see all the landmarks lit up and in some places, the trees have lights wrapped around them and you feel like you are in heaven. It is my favorite time of the year hands down. Here are 15 reasons why...

1. Snow

Although it usually doesn't snow heavily in Massachusetts until January or late December, by the time Thanksgiving comes around every year I'm already getting super psyched about the first snowfall. There is something so majestic about the way the streets look right after a snowfall. With the snow sprinkled on all the branches and the pure white of it all before cars and life turn it brown.

2. Decorating Your Dorm/House

Coming back from Thanksgiving break I had multiple Snapchats from friends of their newly decorated festive dorms. I myself spent the night before going back to school decorating my house and then spent my first night back at school making my dorm room more Christmas themed. Coming back to a dorm that is decked out in Christmas lights and snowflakes makes it less painful to study for finals.

3. Decorating the Christmas Tree

Despite the fact that I only get to enjoy the presence of the Christmas tree at my house for a week because I am in college, I still love decorating it.

4. Starbucks Cups

You know it's the holiday season when you see tons of people strolling around with their Starbucks' red cups.

5. Peppermint Bark

I'm obsessed with peppermint bark so I always buy a few containers of it during Christmas time.

6. Hot Chocolate

Mmmm hot chocolate is always delicious but it's even better when the weather starts getting cold.

7. Gingerbread Houses

My fondest memories growing up were the trips to my friend's grandparent's house to decorate these amazing gingerbread houses. I don't have time to decorate them anymore but I still love looking at them and helping my cousins with decorating them.

8. Holiday Shopping

Although shopping for other people can be stressful, it’s worth it when you get to see the smiles on their faces when they open the present plus the rush of pride you get when you find the perfect present.

9. Holiday Movies

ABC Family’s (aka Freeform) 25 days of Christmas is the best thing to exist. There are so many good holiday movies to choose from and it’s great knowing that you don’t need to spend hours contemplating which holiday films to watch when you can just turn on the TV and ABC family is already playing one for you.

10. Seeing Family

It’s always great seeing family members that you may not see often.

11. End of fall semester

December can be the most stressful month for a college student because of finals but on the bright side, it also means the end of the fall semester! Yay!

12. Winter break

A month’s long break after a stressful month of finals and semester of hard work is the best thing ever.

13. Holiday parties

Don’t you just love holiday parties? I know I do.

14. Christmas music

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Truer words have never been spoken. Driving or walking around and listening to Christmas music is the best. I strongly encourage singing loud for all to hear, it’ll brighten their day I promise.

15. Christmas, Hanukkah and other December holidays

The best reason why December is an amazing month, of course, is the holidays we celebrate!