For the final Last Word of the Fall 2022 semester, we decided to close out with the SM staff’s thoughts on various Christmas topics. Get ready to enjoy thoughtful reflections, passionate Christmas-themed rants, and even a lovely poem. Wishing you a merry Christmas from the Student Movement family!
Christmas in Argentina
Chris Ngugi, Pulse Editor
Beach. Sunshine. Lonely. That is what my Christmas will look like this year. For more context, I am studying abroad in Argentina for the school year, and I plan on staying in South America for the Christmas break. In reality, I won’t quite be lonely for the holiday; I’ll be surrounded by friends. However, for the first time, I won’t be surrounded by family. It will be much hotter here than the freezing wintery weather I’m used to in my Michigan home, but can I truly feel the warmth of Christmas without my family? What is Christmas, if not a day for family? Maybe this is the Christmas when I get to find out.
Sorry for the mild taste of existential dread there; force of habit. On a cheerier note, I get to travel all over South America for the holidays! My December travels include world wonders like Machu Picchu and the famous beaches of São Paulo and Viña del Mar. Not to mention, people are really getting into the Christmas spirit here. Even with the one-hundred-plus degree weather (Fahrenheit), the streets are lined with Christmas trees and decorated lamp posts. This Christmas season will undoubtedly be different than any I’ve ever had, but I think that’s ok. In fact, I think it’s fantastic! I hope you have a fantastic, warm, and beautiful Christmas, too; Happy Holidays!
Christmas Break Plans
Solana Campbell, Arts & Entertainment Editor
After the panic of finals dies down, I’ll be headed home for the holidays. Since my birthday falls two days after Christmas (December 27), I have to admit that this is my absolute favorite time of the year. All in one week, I get to celebrate Christmas Day, my 21st Birthday, and the coming of a new year that promises to hit a refresh on my current habits (or so we can hope). What can I say, it’s the best week of the year!
This year, I’m hoping to split my week between all my favorite people: my family, extended family, my partner, and my best friends. It is a bold and gutsy endeavor, and the jury’s definitely still out on whether I’ll be successful, but my plans reminded me of what the holidays are all about: the people you love and who love you. Each of us are blessed with only a few short years to spend on this earth, in the great scheme of things, and every year I’m blessed to find myself ending the year surrounded by people I love dearly. So this holiday season, and this upcoming new year, I hope you all find yourself surrounded by your loved ones, whether it's friends or family, and just take the time to soak in all the love you can. I know we’ll need it for the year ahead.
More Festivities! More Fun!
Grace No, Humans Editor
My family never took Christmas super seriously as a holiday and I didn’t really mind that, even when I was little. We don’t have any long standing traditions surrounding it or deep sentiment and I kind of just like having the opportunity to pick out fun presents for the people I care about. I do really enjoy this time of year though, because all the snow and lights and decorations that start going up in December makes everything feel more fun and silly. I wish that we would all be more extravagant and over the top with decor and fashion more times out of the year—maybe that would take away from the special feeling, but honestly I don’t think so. If we all had a little more fun with the way we interact with other people instead of saving it all up for the holiday season, I don’t see any downsides to that. This is why I’ll be wearing my Christmas socks and sweater year round, and why people should leave their Christmas decorations on their lawn for longer. It’s just silly and we need more silliness in the world.
A Christmas Confessional
Alexander J. Hess, Ideas Editor
Ok, so I have a confession. But first: context. My favorite part of the Christmas season are festive music and films. When my family decorates for Christmas on the Friday after Thanksgiving, we always begin the festivities with bringing up the boxes and boxes of decorations and watching “White Christmas.” However, like I said, I have a confession. Even though I love Christmas-specific entertainment, I have never seen a number of movies that are considered “core” Christmas movies. Namely, the “Home Alone” series. I know. Tragic. I can hear the collective scream of scandalized AU students. But honestly, I’m kinda scared to watch it. My freshman year, I watched another Christmas classic (“Elf”) and. . .let’s just say I don’t think I was missing much. So, I’m nervous to watch it because I’m not sure which is worse: not having seen “Home Alone” or not liking it. But what do you all think? Should I “repent from my sinful ways” and watch “Home Alone”?
Why “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” is the Best Christmas Movie
Alannah Tjhatra, Editor-in-Chief
People always say that the original is better than the sequel, but in terms of the “Home Alone” franchise, this is absolutely not the case. With a whopping 35% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Chris Columbus’s “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” is nothing short of a masterpiece. Here are some reasons why it’s the best Christmas movie of all time.
First of all: why invent a new plot when you can just reuse an old one? “Home Alone 2” is basically the original “Home Alone” but set in New York City. Instead of Kevin being left alone in his house, our young protagonist has a whole city to run through. Instead of robbing houses, the Wet Bandits are robbing a whole toy store. And instead of learning about the importance of family from a scary but sweet old man shoveling snow, Kevin teaches a lesson about trust to a scary but sweet old lady feeding pigeons in Central Park.
Secondly: Kevin McCallister is living the childhood dream. Sticking your head out of a yellow taxi as you cross the Brooklyn Bridge? Pigging out on ice cream in a Plaza Hotel room that you have all to yourself? Eating pizza in a limousine? Watching a concert in the secret rooms of Carnegie Hall? I want his life so badly. (Minus being tormented by bandits.)
Now, I know there are profound themes in“It’s a Wonderful Life.” I think that “Carol” is beautifully written and masterfully filmed. I believe in the magic of “Miracle on 34th Street.” But absolutely nothing will ever compare to a classic like “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”
Uhh Alannah You’re Wrong: My Top 7 Christmas Movies
Terika Williams, News Editor
Let's be honest, Christmas isn’t just a day, it's a culture. December 1st to the 25th is where the Christmas spiri