Now that the Thanksgiving holiday is over, students are making way for the Christmas holiday. For some students, this is the end of the semester and the end of their college years, but for others it is yet another break from the books.

For most, Christmas already started Thanksgiving night by putting up the tree and Christmas decorations or the day after Thanksgiving with Black Friday where Christmas shopping can get done early and at an affordable price.

This three week vacation is a perfect opportunity for family time.

“Over Christmas break I will be spending time with my family,” Aundra Williams, a senior general studies major, said.

VSU has students who both live in and have traveled from out of state to attend college here. A lot of students have a long distance to travel in order to see their family.

“I’m going home to San Francisco to see my family,” Clairice Contevita, a sophomore mass media mayor, said.

This break is also great for combining both family and traveling.

“Over Christmas break I will be home spending time with my family and traveling to Virginia for a wedding,” Jessica Bankston, a freshman undecided major, said.
Christmas time is all about giving and spending time with the ones you love, but some also use this break as vacation time to get away from the stress of college life.

“I’m going to Brooklyn for concerts and McClarinds Bar on Christmas,” Muhammad Hassan, a junior pre-med major, said.

Not all students are fortunate enough to spend the entire break relaxing or enjoying extra time with the family.

“For most of my holiday break I will be working here in Valdosta,” Emma Wilkon, a sophomore athletic training major said. “On Christmas Eve, I will finally go home and see my family for a few days.”

Whether staying in Valdosta, traveling across the country, or driving home to spend time with family, there is plenty to do to keep students busy over the break.

For those lucky few who actually get to see and experience a white Christmas, snowball fights and building snowmen are two fun ways to combine family and fun time. Caroling is also another holiday favorite.

Here in Valdosta, there are several events around the community hosted every season. On Saturday starting at 10 a.m. there is a Holiday Open House and Christmas Parade.

The First Baptist Church is also hosting a Christmas Joy Concert Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m. and a second showing on Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. This is the Valdosta Choral Guild’s Christmas concert of sacred and secular music of the season.

So, whether you are spending time with family, traveling, or feeling stuck in Valdosta, there is plenty to do to bring about the holiday cheer.