Deck the Halls With Bright Lights and Holiday Spirited Fun
An overview of the Festive decorations that can be witnessed around the University of Toronto Mississauga campus
As the fall semester comes to a close and winter sets in, people around campus are finding ways to decorate their spaces with festive decorations. Several decorated trees have popped up, from the one outside of Maanjiwe Nendaemowinan to the giant tree behind Oscar Peterson Hall, decorated by the UTM Residence Services. If the holiday seasons put you in a giving mood, the library has a small mitten tree where donations of winter accessories such as gloves, scarves, and hats can be placed, as well as non-perishable foods.
There’s also a line of trees draped in lights right outside McLuhan Court, another residence. The residence buildings have a variety of decorations going for the holidays beyond their trees. Coleman Commons has strings of paper light decorations, stickers on walls, and even a make-your-own gingerbread man station on Friday. Over in Erindale, students have taken it upon themselves to decorate their common spaces, from snowflake stickers on doors to bells and mistletoe. Students on the fourth floor spent their Tuesday night hanging up wreaths and reindeer cutouts on the window of their common room. Paul Cocos, one of the decorators, explained that they were using their final community gathering of the year to add some festive spirit to their space. The students agreed that these activities help create a collaborative atmosphere, and it’s enjoyable seeing the unique ways everyone accessorises their areas.
Beyond decorating, there have been many small events held by Resident Services, encouraging students to take a break from exam preparation. One of these events was Cup of Coco at Roy Ivor Hall. The main lobby of the residence building was decorated fittingly, and students could try several festive drinks from around the world, like a dirty soda, cocoa or chai. There were also a number of smaller stands set up around the lobby for bracelet making and other crafts.
These events aren’t limited to residence either: UTM Skates recently hosted its annual indoor skating event, transforming the gym into an ice skating rink. The event was free of charge and had a host of other attractions. This included a hot chocolate stand, a snowglobe-making table, a stand where students could learn to crochet their own snowflakes, a bookmark-making station, and of course, a decorated tree.
No matter what community interests you, there will always be events to partake in if you’re interested in celebrating the upcoming holidays. However, these decorating sprees or hot chocolate drinking binges aren’t just about the holidays: they’re about bringing the UTM community together through art, entertainment, and crafts. So, grab a paper snowflake or string of lights and some friends, and get ready to enjoy your winter break!
