The holidays are a time to be with loved ones, share joy and celebrate the traditions that make the season special. For first-year students, however, this time of year can come with many conflicting emotions. This is the first time they have been away from home during the holiday season, which, combined with the pressures of all the assignments and exams, can make the holiday season feel a little less festive. Despite these new challenges, first-years are finding ways to bring the holiday spirit to their new college home, even if it looks a little different this year.
For many, being at Colgate University during the holiday season means significant distance from home and family. This separation can intensify feelings of homesickness and make students feel as if they are missing out on some of the joy and festivities of the holiday season. One way to alleviate these feelings is by bringing traditions from home onto campus, which many first-years have done. First-year Ada Linde took something she loves doing with her home friends each year over Thanksgiving and brought that to Colgate, starting a new tradition for her next four years on campus.
“My friends [from my hometown] and I have done ‘friendsgiving’ pretty much every year. And the Wednesday before break, my friends and I all cooked in the Burke kitchen and then ate all together […]. It felt cozy and reminded me of home,” Linde said.
Like Linde, first-year Annie Reilly continued festivities from home. For her, this meant decorating her dorm room with Christmas lights, listening to holiday music and building a gingerbread house.
“If I was not doing [these traditions], I would be sad because I would feel like I’m missing out on everything my family is doing at home, so it made Colgate feel more like home,” Reilly said.
While established traditions have played a significant role in how first-years celebrate the holidays, the new traditions they create for themselves at Colgate have proven to be just as meaningful and impactful. These new traditions center around the community and feeling love and joy within Colgate and Hamilton itself. First-year Harper Fischer emphasized the value of taking part in the traditions and opportunities that Colgate provides for its students.
“I have been doing a lot with Colgate organizations and just getting together with people; Franksgiving was really great, and so was walking on Willow Path. It made me feel more at home, and I definitely will make those traditions. They have become a huge part of my Colgate holidays,” Fischer said.
Reilly, who attended the tree-lighting ceremony in Hamilton, also spoke about how the traditions set in place by the community around her made the holidays feel more special. But she also found a lot of joy in celebrating the small moments with those around her.
“It was so exciting to have the first snow of the year, so a bunch of girls in my dorm, none of us had sleds, so we just took the trash bags and put them on ourselves to sled down the hill,” Reilly said. “It was a really nice bonding experience and one I definitely want to continue.”
By blending old customs with new traditions, first-years create holiday traditions that bring a sense of home while showing them their love for the Colgate community and its people. These experiences will stay with them after they leave Colgate, some of which may even become a part of their holiday festivities forever.
Reilly emphasized the value in how traditions can evolve.
“It’s important that even with keeping old traditions, there are new ones started here because going to college is a whole new experience, and you don’t want it to be exactly like your high school experience or your experience before that.” Reilly said. “It’s about taking new opportunities and trying out new things.”
