Madison Taylor

Longing for a cure for those exam panic attacks? Or perhaps just a change of scenery that doesn’t involve oppressively fluorescent library lighting or coffee-stained textbook pages? Look no further, there is a number of great holiday events to take your mind off the stress.

Nothing brings back those warm and fuzzy memories of childhood Christmases better than the unexplainable joy found in a simple string of colored LED lights. Now imagine strolling through an entire forest illuminated with them.

Saskatoon Forestry Farm is here to bring your childhood dreams to life this December with their annual Enchanted Forest Holiday Light Tour, accessible on foot, by vehicle or — you may want to brace yourself for this one — horse drawn sleigh. Bundle up and bask in the magic every night this month from 5:30-11 p.m. for just $8 per person.

If horse drawn carriage rides aren’t your cup of tea, perhaps a nostalgic skate on the Cameco Meewasin Rink located next to the beautiful Bessborough hotel will tickle your fancy.

A Saskatoon winter classic, this simple outdoor rink is made all the more delightful when decorated with the glitter of fresh snowfall. Along with a priceless view of the city, the rink offers a fire pit that skaters can gather around with blankets and thermoses full of hot chocolate to ward off the chill.

The greatest feature of all? Skating on the rink is completely free. Starving student problems and budget cuts have no place amongst this much festive joy.

Looking for an alternative to Christmas cheer that doesn’t involve being exposed to the heartless bitch that is the Saskatchewan winter? Teachers Credit Union Place is hosting a selection of live holiday entertainment, including Festival of Carols from Dec. 9 – 19 at noon and Saskatoon’s own Fireside Singers on Dec. 20 and 21.

If you were hoping for something other than a suit-and-tie affair, how about a movie day at the Roxy Theater? The Roxy will be playing the modern classic Polar Express on the Dec. 19 completely free of charge. Die Hard will also be playing later that evening for free, because what says Christmas cheer better than Bruce Willis popping caps in some terrorists?

Those festive feelings aren’t simply gained from special events, however. There are oodles of little things that can be done during study breaks or lazy Sunday afternoons.

How about turning the Bowl into your own personal war zone with some extreme snowball fighting? Or better yet, decorate your beloved campus with your best attempt at modern art in the form of snowmen and snow angels.

Even something as simple as hanging a line of lights in your bedroom or putting up a dinky little Charlie Brown tree in your dorm room or apartment can brighten the exam hibernation period.

If you’re feeling crafty, perhaps making some festive little knick-knacks such as a mason jar snow globe or a classic kindergarten-inspired macaroni tree ornament will bring some cheer into your day.

In the end, it can’t be denied that the coziest of Christmas feelings comes from snuggling up in a warm blanket with a mug of hot chocolate or a glass of eggnog — which let’s be honest, is probably more rum than eggnog — listening to Bing Crosby and watching the snow fall.

There is a reason why Christmas is called the most wonderful time of the year — when else can you spend every hour of the day shamelessly drinking, eating and sleeping?