Feast of Carols returns for its 32nd production this weekend. It’s a magical event put on by the the choir and orchestra students, and transports guests to medieval time. Filling the night with laughter, full stomachs and musical enjoyment.

Waking up to sounds that fill my hearts with joy and laughter signifies a wonderful time of year- Christmas. Hearing my favorite Christmas song, which has been sung generations, warms my heart. Christmas It seems to be the best time of the year. Every time I change the radio station there’s another old Christmas tune. My eyes begin to sparkle until I hear a spin on the beat, a person freestyling, and an artist that is struggling to hit every note to sound better than the next. I realize with horror that it’s not an old classic, but a new remix.

Christmas is a time to celebrate, spend time with family, give and receive presents, and eat all the food we can. However, most people find themselves struggling with one simple thing the presents. I’ve been through it countless times, the holidays come around, stores are booming with sales, and everyone’s eager to receive the best presents in the world, but the ideas are nowhere to be found. It seems that every time I don’t have the money or a reason to buy presents for my loved ones, presents are jumping off the shelves, but when confronted with decisions of what to choose for that oh so special Christmas gift, the ideas are less than ample.

It is Halloween, or is it Christmas? Many people (much like myself) are still bummed out about Halloween being over. Now that it’s almost pointless, and kind of pathetic, to still be watching Halloween movies, it’s time for the inevitable switch to the insurmountable pile of Christmas movies that has been idly waiting in the back of the closet along with all the dusty tree ornaments and stockings.

The sound of steaming hot water for hot chocolate, sleigh bells ringing in christmas songs, flashing colorful lights up and down different neighborhoods, being woken up by the smell of gingerbread cookies, tacky Christmas sweaters, and the exciting Black Friday advertisements for preparation of Christmas gifts. Christmas time can’t get here any quicker.

As the end of October comes to a close, the spooky Halloween month fades into November. November marks the beginning of two months of the living nightmare that is the Christmas season. Now, you may ask, why does the Christmas season start in November? Well to tell you the truth, it starts in early October, or even earlier. Why does it start so early? It’s because people think they need to feel holiday cheer before it needs to be felt.

Coming on the heels of a successful showing at the Texas Thespian convention, Viking Theatre scored big again with the success of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, performed on December 5 and 6 in the Blue Auditorium.

“Fa la la la la, la la la la.”

It’s December 1st and I’m about to fa-la-la-fall off a cliff as a last resort to escape the Christmas music that’s playing in every public place I walk into.

With Christmas just around the corner, classic Christmas movies are beginning to pop on television, families are putting colorful lights up around the house, and, best of all, that beloved Christmas music is playing everywhere we go.

Men and women standing outside of stores ringing bells, children’s names hanging on Christmas trees, piles of canned goods stacked at the local food bank – all symbols of goodwill that seems to pour out during the holiday season. With lights, trees, gifts, food, and family, the holiday season is considered the greatest time of the year. But unfortunately, some cannot have a joyful holiday without a helping hand.

How would you portray a normal Christmas? Would you picture it with cookies and milk, waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve and decorating your tree with your favorite ornaments or, would you picture it with amazing feasts at the dinner table, gifts around the Christmas tree and kisses under the mistletoe? Whether you picture it like any of the above or not, it is important to remember one of the main values of Christmas: family.