Christmas Senses

As Thanksgiving ends, so the holiday season begins for many Americans across the states, but for students at Vanguard University, what exactly makes it feel like the holidays?

According to Weatherspark, the weather at Costa Mesa ranges from sunny to partly cloudy on most days, with a weather temperature of, “48°F to 79°F and is rarely below 41°F or above 87°F.” But, for a majority of people at Vanguard University, when the temperature is around 75° the days are great, but when it drops into around 60° with a slight breeze, things get cold. Some of us want the warm weather back and others enjoy the cool breeze. However, here at Costa Mesa we don’t get snow and as most of us have seen in commercials and holiday movies, snow says holiday! Besides the weather, what else reminds us that a change in season has occurred?

Maybe it’s the things we see, like the holiday reef on the door, or a big red bow. Or even better, Christmas lights- strung across a house and wrapped around a Christmas tree that lights up a room at night. It could be the leaves that fall off the tree and roll across the street during a drive that remind us that the warm days of summer are over. Maybe it’s the commercial we see on tv that features people dressed in winter jackets as they shovel the snow from the driveway. Or stores that feature a little girl holding a present with a big red bow tied around it. Maybe it’s the big sign that says 50% off as we shop for Christmas gifts for loved ones.

Maybe it’s the sounds we hear, like that holiday music. It’s a specific sound, such as a jingle bell, and of course that remind us of that famous song, jingle bells and of the story of Rudolf the red-nose reindeer. Or perhaps it’s the sound of a fireplace, that crackling that reminds us of hot-coco and the sensation that makes us feel warm and cozy on the inside.

Maybe it’s the taste and smell of hot-coco, warm peppermint coffee, or apple cider. Maybe it’s the peppermint sticks or tase of sugar cookies. Perhaps it’s the touch of a fir tree or the softness of our Christmas sweaters. To a fellow vanguard student, she said that her top two things that made it feel like Christmas was seeing the Christmas lights and the taste of sugar cookies. Sight and taste contribute heavily to our senses overall. But, for whatever it may be, it’s our senses make it feel like Christmas. It’s not just the activities we do at Christmas, its what we taste, feel, smell, touch, and hear that make up the holidays!