Preparations for a very Merry Christmas

Vanessa Alvarez, Junior Staff Writer|December 11, 2015

"My favorite part of Christmas preparations is decorating the Christmas tree because it's such a fun time to hang out with my family and welcome Christmas spirit" exclaims junior Anna Pardon

Credit: Jessica Zakhary/@jczakhary.vsco.co

“My favorite part of Christmas preparations is decorating the Christmas tree because it’s such a fun time to hang out with my family and welcome Christmas spirit” exclaims junior Anna Pardon

The most anticipated holiday of the year is finally just weeks away. The first three weeks of December are filled with stress and intense studying for students at the Academy, the reasoning being that midterms begin the week of December 12. Following the week filled with anxiety and restlessness, is the beloved start of Christmas break.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BonbILPEjAg

The days leading up to Christmas are typically packed with activities to prepare for the ending of the first semester, and to prepare for Christmas day. Freshman Sarah Kate Murphy exclaims “my dog has a stocking on top of the fireplace.” Typically, a large portion of the initial 25 days of December is spent studying, watching Christmas movies, and decorating homes with lights, trees, and other dazzling decorations. In addition, sometimes even months in advance, Christmas music blares through hallways and streets. Some students at the Academy veer off from these norms and have traditions of their own to help them get into the Christmas spirit.

Junior Grace Neal celebrating the season in a very unique and technology oriented way. Each day, Neal changes the wallpaper on her laptop to scenes from different Christmas films. The junior exclaims, “Christmas is my favorite holiday! If I remember, I am going to wrap my laptop in wrapping paper”. The Christmas phanatic chooses her favorite movies to display on her computer. She plans to take part in this activity throughout the 25 days until Christmas.  

So far, Neal has used screencaps from How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Santa Clause.
So far, Neal has used screencaps from How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Santa Clause. Credit: Snapchat// Grace Neal

Kate Reitz, also a junior, incorporates art into her holiday preparations. This year, the junior using paint to decorate words that relate to the season. This past Halloween, she painted “WICKED” using a variety and colors that correspond with the holiday. She reveals “I just started doing these this past Halloween. My aunt loved the idea and now she hangs them on the front door”.  In a similar fashion, Reitz got into the holiday spirit in the beginning of December by painting reds and greens onto wooden letters spelling out “NOEL.” She admits her inspiration is the love for the holiday due to the happiness that is spread throughout everyone. Reitz adds that the paintings bring her that wonderful extra cheer.  

While creating the NOEL decoration, Kate exclaims while making them “I just started doing these this past Halloween. My aunt loved the idea and now she hangs them on the front door." Credit: Kate Reitz
While creating the NOEL decoration, Kate exclaims while making them “I just started doing these this past Halloween. My aunt loved the idea and now she hangs them on the front door.” Credit: Kate Reitz
Reitz first thought of the idea while at Michaels adding "I saw one of these word cutout things and I thought that could look really cool if it was painted with different things from the holiday with each word."
Reitz first thought of the idea while at Michaels adding “I saw one of these word cutout things and I thought that could look really cool if it was painted with different things from the holiday with each word.”

Although some prepare for Christmas throughout the entire month, freshman Maria Almendares does things a little differently. She expressed that her and her family do not do much preparation for Christmas Day. She adds, “we really don’t do stuff until the week before because that’s when everyone comes together since my family lives all over the U.S.” Almendares also exclaims that typically they do gift exchanges on the Day of the King, however typically on Christmas day, they receive money instead of toys, clothes, etc.
December 1st through the 25th is a special time to prepare for an extraordinary holiday. With the stressful week of midterms ahead, listening to Christmas music, shopping, and decorating for Christmas is a wonderful and joyous way to relax and add some cheer to the typical mood of anxiety.