Michigan and the “most wonderful time of the year”

By Katie White
Western Herald

There is a misconception amongst older people that college aged kids only look forward to Christmas break because they don’t have to go to class. Part of that is true, and you can’t blame us, but some might be surprised at what else kids on Western Michigan University’s campus look forward to.

Students come from all over the state of Michigan to attend WMU, and every year, around this time, there is a different vibe in the air. People are cramming for final exams and getting concrete work schedules. They start to skimp on grocery shopping and laundry.

It’s an itch.

It’s a tingle.

It’s the excitement of getting home and being with their families.

“Basically just spending time with my family is my favorite,” said Mandy Hesselink, a WMU junior from Rudyard. “Since I live in the Upper Peninsula it is always nice when my whole family gets together, since it does not happen too often.”

Family truly seems to be the heart of the Christmas season. The traditions started at home are what get WMU students ready for the end of finals week and their long drives back to where they came from. Some traditions never change, and they help get us more in the spirit of the season. They’re the memories that make the whole month of December magical.

“We always eat dinner at my house and have a nontraditional traditional Christmas dinner with Portillo’s hotdogs from Chicago,” said Adam Turner, a WMU junior from St. Joseph. “We get to open one present before church.”

Traditions allow us to be little kids again. No matter the age, there is something about the decorations, the things we’ve done for years, the actual holiday that make us feel young again. The month of December should really just be renamed Happiness-ember because everywhere you go, “cheer” hangs in the air.

“My favorite thing about Christmas is how it’s timeless. Every year it feels new and exciting even though every year it’s the exact same thing,” said Lyndsee Smith, A WMU junior from St. Joseph. “I’m just a year older. I’m the only thing that changes with Christmas.”

Surprisingly, even the question of Santa comes into play. Kids can say they’re too cool and deny that he exists. But deep down, that old man with a big belly carrying a satchel full of presents gets us nostalgic and giddy. No matter where in Michigan, he makes the rounds.

“With a family with 5 kids, even though now the youngest is 11, you’re always woken up by someone jumping on you because Santa brought presents,” Smith said.

At Christmas time, everyone is different and yet totally the same. Christmas helps us see that. It brings out the human in all of us. We look forward to simple things like time off and presents. One thing everyone all over Michigan can relate to is the feeling we get when it comes to our families, whether it be drinking hot cocoa with our grandparents, playing cards, or cramming into a car to look at neighborhood lights together.

“I love EVERYTHING about the Christmas season. It is my favorite time of the year and I try to make it last as long as possible,” said Nicky Powell, WMU freshman from Novi. “That is probably why I start watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music as early as late October.”

In Michigan, it’s not the presents or the time off that matter so much to WMU students. It’s their families that make Christmas what it is. Whenever you’re feeling down or frustrated, allow yourself to buy into the mysticism of being a carefree kid sometimes, especially in the month of December.

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Posted by heraldstaff on Dec 13 2009. Filed under A & E. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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