Christmas Movie Night, The Holiday Before the Holidays

By: Toby Knutson

“‘Twas the night before finals, and all through the theater, every student was stressed, in need of a heater. The Jones was filled with holiday cheer, with a movie set to quell their fears.”

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Between the stress of finals and the semester coming to an end, STAB, the Student Theater Advisory Board, hosted a Christmas movie night December 7, the Sunday before finals. Keeping up their annual tradition, the event was held in the Jones theater with homemade hot cocoa, crafts, snacks, and a showing of The Holiday, directed by Nancy Meyers. Kadie Huls, a junior Elementary Education major, is the Activity Coordinator for STAB. “It’s a fun way to bring the community back together,” Huls said. “At TCF (Theater Company Fellowship) we have a lot of fun as friends and family. And getting to come together and watch a movie together is just a fun way to continue that.” In search of a place to rest in between studying for finals, many students showed up to partake in an evening of coziness and relaxation. One of these students, Bethany Dunkle, a sophomore Music and Psychology major, loved getting the chance to hang with her friends. “In a time as stressful as finals, the chance to focus on spending time with people and build relationships can be the most wonderful way to de-stress”, Dunkle said. “There’s nothing quite like getting to spend time with my friends while we relax and do fun Christmas activities.” Christmas is a time of spiritual reflection, gratitude for God’s love, and embodying faith through acts of generosity, service, and kindness. For Dunkle, Christmas is one of the most special times of the year. “Christmas helps remind me to hold my loved ones close, cherish the people in my life, and hold close the memories of the loved ones no longer a part of my life,” said Dunkle. “We have the blessing of a God who loves us enough to give us the best Christmas gift in the form of His son.” And with His gift, Dunkle has the chance every day to have her cup filled by the wonderful people in her life. The theater department’s Christmas movie night was a chance to tie a bow on the Fall semester while also ringing in the Yuletide season. Huls says that events like these, “would be a good opportunity to sort of meet the people.” Filled with laughter, food, and Christmas cheer, it was a nice way to end off the semester. Dunkle reflects fondly on her evening relaxing with friends. “It’s memories like these that make the whole college experience worth it.” And memories such as this are also what Christmas is about; spending time with the ones you love while rejoicing in the birth of our Lord. And as students stepped back out into the chill of finals week, they carried with them the warmth of fellowship and the hope found in the season’s true meaning.