Story by Annie Hutchins and Kayla White
The WKU fall semester came to a close with the last day of finals week on Thursday, Dec. 11.
Megan McGraw, a freshman nursing major from Hebron, Kentucky, said she’s looking forward to the holidays.
“I feel like it brings people together,” McGraw said. “Everyone wants to be close to their loved ones during such big and important times.”
McGraw said that her favorite holiday tradition is putting ornaments on the Christmas tree with her family two weeks before Christmas. She said her family also makes cookies and has dinner together on Christmas Eve.
Taylor Bauer, a freshman nursing major from Louisville also said her family’s holiday traditions are making cookies and putting up the Christmas tree.
Bauer said she spends the holidays with her immediate family and her boyfriend’s family.
“I get really sad if they change the day,” Bauer said.
Bauer also said she always goes to Lights Under Louisville at Louisville Mega Cavern every Christmas Eve. The event boasts over 900 light displays with 7 million points of light, according to their website. She said seeing the lights is her favorite tradition.
Bowling Green kicked off its own holiday season with events like the official opening of SoKY Ice Rink, free holiday movies at The Capitol and the SKYPAC Community Christmas Tree Lighting, according to Bowling Green’s website.
Miranda Heuglin, a freshman broadcasting major from Louisville said her family lives in Florida, so her holiday gatherings are small. Every year, her family watches National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation for the holiday season.
According to IMDb, the 1989 comedy follows the Griswold family as their Christmas plans turn to ruin.
“It’s just a time for everybody to slow down and take time together,” Heuglin said. “We get so caught up in everything so we just get to have a few days off and get to just spend time with family without any distractions.”
Lukas Laird, a freshman finance major from Louisville said his family’s holiday traditions include waking up early Christmas morning to open presents, drinking Bailey’s, an alcoholic drink, and trying to build snowmen if it’s snowing.
Laird said his family is spread throughout the U.S., so for him, the holidays are the time when his whole family comes together.
“It’s the season of giving,” Laird said. “Everybody is happy. The holidays are that one time when you make an effort to see your family and put your life on pause.”