Happy Holidays Hoyas!!! Amid studying for your final exams and attempting the impossible task of assembling the perfect course schedule for next semester, you are dead set on getting in the holiday spirit. Your (ugly) Christmas sweaters have made their appearance in your wardrobe, a fake Christmas tree has been erected in your room, peppermint flavored beverages (like hot cocoa) have been purchased and you and your friends are having a Secret Santa gift exchange!
With Corp Gala tickets, other Christmas shopping, impending textbook purchases and the general lack of monetary funds that accompanies being in college, 4E knows that purchasing a reindeer may not be in the cards for you this year. Fear not! Here are some tips for being the best secret Santa, on a budget.
Christmas socks
Is your dorm room heating system not quite working properly? Want to take your socks and sandals game to the next level? Gifting festive holiday socks is a foolproof way to make sure that your friends are broadcasting their holiday spirit properly, thus fulfilling your Secret Santa obligations. These footwear essentials don’t need to be personally hand knit or made of Tibetan llama wool. Your Secret Santa buddy has surely lost a fair share of socks in the laundry room this semester and will gladly welcome any red and green additions to their collection.
Homemade cookies
Take over the common room kitchen and bake some holiday cookies! Whip out frosting, sprinkles, cookie cutters, icing, edible pearls — whatever you need to make your best edible Christmas trees, Santa Clauses, and dreidels. Bonus points for cleaning common room kitchen as a gift to all of your floor mates (who may or may not have embellished their organizational tendencies on CHARMS).
A Personal Christmas Carol Serenade
Ambush this person in a public place. 4E recommends Leo’s, Red Square or one of the quiet floors of Lau; serenade them with a lovely rendition of all of your favorite Christmas carols. Bonus points for a personal interpretation of the Mean Girls “Jingle Bell Rock” performance.
Other Pro Tips
Dress up like Santa and deliver your gift via chimney to make this experience as realistic and meaningful as possible for your Secret Santa buddy. No worries if your Secret Santa buddy’s dorm room doesn’t have a fireplace; the fireplaces in HSFC were surely designed with Christmas eve present delivery reenactments in mind. Is it really Secret Santa if there are no Santa costumes involved? 4E doesn’t think so either and expects you to act accordingly.
Gifs: giphy.com
