This week my social media feeds have been flooded with Christmas gift guides, videos of families decorating their trees, and festive recipes. Although with the knowledge that exam season and final assignments still loom in the next few weeks, it can be difficult to relax and fully embrace the holidays. But despite the pressures of assessments, there are still several ways for students to get into the festive spirit while at university.
Many of the students I spoke with discussed how they were planning to have some festive celebrations with their friends in early December sometime between finishing their exams and returning home to spend time with family. One student was particularly excited about a roast dinner she and her flatmates were planning on hosting in the upcoming weeks. She told me she often loses the motivation to cook “real food” after spending her days studying for assessments and how she misses the comfort of home-cooked food more than ever during these colder months, but to share a nice meal with her friends would be “a good distraction” from the pressures of essays and exams.
The Edinburgh Christmas markets were also frequently mentioned in my discussions about students’ plans for this festive season. Some students were very enthusiastic about the Christmas markets and were looking forward to spending their time going for a stroll around them with their loved ones. One student felt that the Edinburgh markets are “a Christmas staple” and said that they “couldn’t recommend [the markets] enough” to anyone looking to get into the Christmas spirit. On the other hand, several students held the opposite opinion and believe that the markets are overrated. Students complained that the markets are too overcrowded, especially on the weekends, and therefore “not worth the hassle of going” unless you are prepared to get stuck in the middle of a busy crowd. Additionally, students disliked how expensive everything seems to be at the Christmas markets, saying that even with the discounted rates that selected events at the market offer to those who live in EH postcodes, the markets are still “a tourist trap” and extremely overpriced.
Winter is always a pricey time of year but with the cost-of-living crisis exacerbating expenses, many students have expressed concerns that their student budget will not allow them to thoroughly enjoy this festive season. One student mentioned that they were trying to organise a secret Santa with their friend group, saying gift giving is their love language and that they would love to exchange presents with their friends to show much they mean to them. However, they worried that they may be unable to afford to buy gifts for their friends and family because they would not have enough money left over after they pay for other essential expenses such as rent, bills, or tuition.
For many students, money is not the only stress at this time of year, with a recent study finding that 43 per cent of university students feel “constantly anxious” due to the pressures of their exams. One student told me she “couldn’t feel Christmassy” at all knowing that her exams were looming in the near future. She said she expected to feel more in the mood for holiday celebrations after she finishes her exams but, in the meantime, she was prioritising her studies over the festivities. Many students expressed similar sentiments that they were excited for themselves and their friends to have all their assignments and exams completed so they could go out and join in with the festivities.
Plans to celebrate the festive season as a student are often tainted by the stress of university assessments, but there are still plenty of reasons to feel merry. Most students are looking forward to the holidays and found that participating in festivities such as eating meals with friends or family, walking around the Christmas markets, or exchanging gifts can be an effective way to relieve the pressures of university assessments. This festive season I encourage any university student to share joy with the people around you, to spend as much time relaxing with your loved ones as you possibly can, and to take an opportunity to celebrate all your efforts and accomplishments of semester one.
Image by Max Brown for The Student.