Trick-or-Treat, check. Thanksgiving break, check. It’s now socially acceptable to listen to Christmas carols and nearly every organization has begun to celebrate the season in its own special way. Finals are in less than two weeks and nearly every project on your syllabus is due between now and then, BUT IT’S FINALLY CHRISTMAS!!!! How does the Messiah community celebrate the birth of our savior? Where do I begin? On Tuesday, we celebrated Advent in chapel with some age-old hymns and the guitar choir as well as everyone’s favorite scriptures. Then, Tuesday night was out campus-wide tree lighting complete with the brassy sound of more of the songs that warm our hearts, hot drinks to warm our hands, and sweets to start the season off right. Last night, the crafty students had their time to shine as our annual “Deck the Halls” competition took place. The fun of “Deck The Halls” is that each floor decorates their lounge, walls, and even themselves with a Christmas theme and judges as well as other students go around and experience each display of decor and skits too. Winners are selected for best first year floors (guys and girls) or best upperclass floor (guys and girls). My floor was transformed into Halloween Town as a few girls introduced us to their favorite movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas. There were also Who’s about and other Seuss characters, Candyland people, and many many more. Tonight is “Messiah Family Christmas” and the Student Activities Board is hosting a tacky sweater contest, Christmas cookie decorating, pictures with Santa, a screening of Elf, and much more! The Newman Club, our Catholic club is even hosting a chapel where all of the questions you’ve ever had about Mary will be answered tonight. I can’t wait for the noon concerts either and I’m in a Christmas concert on Sunday. There is no more exciting place to celebrate Christmas than a place with 3,000 other students who all know the true reason for the season: Jesus!