Tradition should sometimes die.
If it isn't your first year at Notre Dame, you already know that the student body gets really aggressive, really early about the Christmas season. Though I am all in favor of spreading Christmas cheer, I think there are a few traditions that can and should be scrapped, if only for the sake of my sanity.
Music: If I hear "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey one more time in my life (which I inevitably will), I'm going to go Ebenezer Scrooge on the girl belting it at the top of her lungs.
Rely instead this season on some classics. Give me Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, and let Mariah save her hit for solo renditions for Nick and the twins.
Movies: Though I'm as much a fan of "Love Actually" as the next Domer, you have to admit we are putting all our eggs in one basket when the only Christmas movie gatherings are organized around this rom-com. You won't shoot your eye out if you pop in "A Christmas Story" and reawaken Red Ryder dreams or choose "White Christmas" for a heartwarming seasonal experience.
Theme Parties: Ladies, say no to the red or green satin dress you have hanging in your closet for your winter formal. Someone else will undoubtedly be wearing it the same night you are if you bought it within the last three months. Attire does not need to be so literal when dressing up around Christmas time.
And how many ugly-Christmas-sweater parties can one student attend? The four Good Will-salvaged, hideous sweaters (which have been worn multiple times) sitting in a box in my closet are a testament to our abuse of this theme. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't wearing one this weekend, but I'd be open to some more intricate Christmas themes in the coming weeks.
Décor: While homemade snowflakes and plastic candy canes are cute decoration items in theory, you can't go overboard if you stick to classic lights. Go Green this Christmas by taking a page out of Dillon Hall's decorating book. They put on an LED Christmas light show (that you can watch on YouTube) set to the tune of Christmas melodies. By switching from normal Christmas lights to LED, you can promote sustainability and maintain the traditional look of bright white lights that put anyone in the Christmas mood.
Maybe I'm just jaded. After all, these probably were all new concepts to me my freshman year that I'll reminisce about for years to come. Nonetheless I encourage you to step outside of the box this holiday season and start a new Christmas tradition. Out with the Peppermint Patties, in with whatever Christmas-colored concoction your heart fancies. Cheers!
Contact Marissa Frobes at mfrobes@nd.edu
The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
