As the first semester wraps up, the light at the end of the final exam tunnel is getting brighter and brighter. Whether the holidays are a time to celebrate culture, visit loved ones, or give and receive gifts, holiday cheer is increasing on campus as the “happiest time of the year” approaches.
Winter Around the World
On Thursday, Dec. 7, the Carlmont Associated Student Body’s (ASB) Assemblies Commission held Winter Around the World. The event is an annual clubs fair that observes the many cultures and their respective winter holidays celebrated amongst Carlmont students. Various cultural clubs fundraised at the event, including the Muslim Fellowship Club, selling holiday sugar cookies, and the Filipino Club, selling lumpia.
“Winter around the World has been part of the Holiday Village week for the past couple of years,” said Assemblies Commission Lead Facilitator Annie Gu. “It’s always great to see so many clubs and students involved with the spirit week.”
Winter Around the World was part of the Holiday Village week put on by ASB, which included events such as photos with Santa Claus, cookie decorating, and an ugly sweater contest.
“Holiday Village week is always enjoyable for students, but ASB has been working really hard to make sure that every holiday and everyone feels represented, not just people who celebrate Christmas,” Gu said.
Family recipes
With the advent of the holiday season, families often return to traditional recipes. But for many families, these recipes often deviate from the traditional holiday turkeys and hams.
“During the holiday season, my family usually doesn’t eat traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas food, but we have traditions that are specific to us,” said sophomore Clarabel Voong. “For example, for Christmas dinner, my grandma makes sweet and sour pork, and my aunt makes egg rolls.”
Not only do the delicious recipes and tastes of the holiday season bring smiles to the faces of many, but the act of cooking and spending time with loved ones helps carry the spirit of the holidays.
“Growing up, it was definitely a big tradition to help cook Christmas dinner. All of the kids would help fold spring rolls, and our parents and aunts and uncles would teach us how to make family recipes. It was a great way to come together as a family,” Voong said.
Giving back with gift-giving
The holiday shopping season is in full swing, with many holidays quickly approaching. With landmark days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday driving up consumer spending, many are looking for ways to include charitable initiatives and donations in their holiday shopping this year.
“I love shopping at Sephora, Brandy Melville, and Starbucks. They’ve taken too much of my money,” said sophomore Sophie Chong. “But every time I buy new stuff, I make sure to donate things that I no longer need or wear.”
Especially in gifting, many charities, such as the World Wildlife Fund, are offering options to gift donations on behalf of someone else.
“This year, one of the gifts I’m giving is a gorilla I symbolically donated for my friend,” Chong said. “I wish I could do more, but I’m not aware of all the options to give back.”
