Seasonal cheer flurries across campus

Students make traditions of their own when it comes to celebrating Christmas, and come up with creative ideas of how to share the holiday with people they have grown close to. The phrase “Home is where the heart is” can define the way they feel about the new additions to their family after moving to UMHB.

Every person on campus holds special traditions that are unique in their households. However, when students move off to college, they call a new place home and try to bring old Christmas celebrations along. They make them their own and turn residence halls  into holiday decorated houses full of cheer.

Cammy Lilley, a sophomore nursing major said, “It’s a group effort in our flat. We went out and bought a Christmas tree, garland and ornaments. I even drew a picture of a giant fireplace so we could hang our stockings up.”

Christmas is known as the season of giving in Beall flat 9 as the young women share the traditions with all their friends on campus.    

“Last year I went out with two of my best friends, and we took glamour shots and gave them out inside Christmas cards,” said Janese Williams, a sophomore accounting and marketing major.

Williams said she starts preparing for Christmas before the Thanksgiving holiday by downloading music and preparing to “blast it everyday when we’re back. I think Christmas should be a year-long event.”

The excitement of sharing holiday fun can become an all-night event with an out of town adventure for some students.

“Every year before finals, my friends and I drive to Austin and eat a home-cooked meal. Then we bundle up and head to Zilker Park where we spend time together spinning under the lighted Christmas tree, drinking hot chocolate and eating kettle corn,” sophomore nursing major Mel Lansing said.

Some students just take the time for a quiet ride and a look at Belton Christmas festivities, making that their way to share time together before finals begin.

“We enjoy going to the parade of lights and seeing the new additions added every year while listening to Christmas carols on the radio,” junior philosophy major Brent Richardson said.

Packing up and leaving the established life throughout the semester can be hard for college students. However, what better way to say goodbye than rejoicing with friends.    

Lilley said “We have food, music and the works. I guess you can consider it an early Christmas with our UMHB family.”