Holiday
The Best of Holiday-Themed Procrastination
The point of reading period may be to finally complete those problem sets or crack the spine on the $300 textbook you were supposed to be reading all semester, but we all know what the end of classes actually means: extra procrastination time. Luckily, with the end of exams comes Winter Break, and with Winter Break comes the holidays. Whether you’re planning on returning home to a Christmas tree, a menorah, or even just a non-bunk bed, here are a few Internet distractions to delightfully fill the time you’d otherwise be guiltily scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed.
Which House Has the Best Tree?
It's hard to say for sure which house has won Christmas this year. Eliot and Pfoho wowed judges with draped Christmas lights, and Quincy proved to be a real charmer with hand-cut paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling and a blow-up penguin near the entrance. Currier put up a modest tree, dwarfed perhaps by its massive rooted mascot. (One hesitates to say that Currier's poor Christmas decoration performance is purposefully protesting the deaths of so many of its pine-y brethren.) As part of our own effort to dole out the holiday cheer, Flyby's giving awards to the best houses in each category.
Eight Crazy Nights
Adam Sandler explained it best: "Hanukkah is the festival of lights. Instead of one day of presents, we get eight crazy nights." That about sums up the holiday. But thankfully, there’s more music than just Sandler's humorous song to keep you humming as you spin dreidels and eat latkes (or, more likely given the timing of the holiday this year, as you pray for the miracle that one can of Red Bull lasts for all eight nights of finals period).
Holiday Recommendations from Harvard Square Booksellers
As the holiday season explodes in full force and students try to squeeze in some gift shopping between final exams, the booksellers of Harvard Square are making it easy to find a budget-friendly stocking stuffer for all the different people in your life.
Chanukah concert
Brooke Kantor '15 sings "Livin' on a Prayer" at the Shani a cappella Chanukah concert this Thursday at Hillel. Shani is Harvard's only Jewish social action a cappella group.
FM Gift Guide
It’s that time of year again. The Christmas lights are up, the red and green sweaters are out, and stores everywhere are throwing year-end sales. Haven’t you bought your gifts yet? No need to fret. FM’s got you covered.
Juice Box
With both the holidays and finals approaching, FM is combining our traditional Jukebox and Drinky Drink features into a tasty Juice Box. Pour yourself a drink to help you get through your projects, papers, and predicaments while still getting into the holiday spirit—no straw required.
Harvard Partners with Shelter To Bring Holiday Cheer
For the first time in recent memory, Harvard Campus Services and the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter have teamed to bring holiday cheer to Harvard Square’s homeless population.
Where to Shop for the Holidays
Looking for a Christmas/Hanukkah/holiday present for your family or friends? We've found gifts for under $25 from a variety of stores around the Square.
Myopic Misery: Protect Your Wallet This Holiday Season
This winter, you might want to save your holiday shopping for after finals period. Researchers from Harvard and other universities have found that sadness (a common condition among students trying to finish papers and projects at the end of the semester) not only leads to increased spending, it also impacts the quality of our financial decisions.
Holiday Gifts That Won’t Leave You Alone Under the Mistletoe
With seven blockmates, three siblings, four final exams, and two papers, shopping for holiday gifts can be both financially straining ...
