The Holiday Market has quickly become a beloved tradition, bringing good cheer and holiday spirit to campus
The McMaster Holiday Market took place in the arts quad and McMaster University Student Centre from Nov. 25 to 28, 2024 and was open from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. each day. Speakers playing holiday music and a variety of light displays were set up around the arts quad to create a festive atmosphere. This event was run as a collaboration between the MSU, MSU Campus Events, the Alumni Association and the Student Success Centre.
The market had vendors both outdoors in wooden cabins and at tables in the student centre. MSU Campus Events offered student vendor tables for $10 per day and advertised the application form on their Instagram in early November.
In an interview with The Silhouette, Thomas Saab, the MSU Campus Events director, shared that the planning for the market starts in September. “I meet with AVTEK and we go over, we walk through the space and based on our notes last year look at what we want to change as far as the decorations and the layout, so all the physical spaces,” said Saab. The next stage of planning involves coordinating with the SSC and Alumni Association to plan entertainment and activities.
According to Saab, new to the market this year are fireplaces and propane heaters, additional decorations and a snow machine. “I love the snow machine. I think it adds a completely new layer to the event. It just makes it a little bit more magical. That was my vision going in, I wanted to go from a cute little event to a magical event,” said Saab.
I love the snow machine. I think it adds a completely new layer to the event. It just makes it a little bit more magical. That was my vision going in, I wanted to go from a cute little event to a magical event.
Thomas Saab, Director
MSU Campus Events
New programming for the event includes a live reindeer petting zoo, taking place this afternoon and a screening of Home Alone happening tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Hub. This year’s market also featured live ice sculpture carving and caroling performances from members of the McMaster University Choirs.
The SSC partnered with Hospitality Services to offer a special Taste of Home menu, available at La Piazza from Nov. 25 to 29. The SSC asked international and exchange students to submit traditional dishes from different cultures. The selected dishes were rajma chawal, jollof rice with chicken and plaintain, lasagna Bolognese and stir-fried beef noodles
The SSC also set up a wood and plexiglass dome in the arts quad, which served as a spot for students to take photos. Students could enter a draw to win a dinner in the dome through a form on the SSC website. The winning student got to enjoy dishes from the Taste of Home menu with three of their friends.
Saab shared he had hoped to include a maple taffy station. “We wanted to do maple taffy [like in] the old village and Quebec. We wanted to include that but it wasn’t within the budget this year so hopefully next year we’ll be able to add that as a fun snack for students,” said Saab. Saab estimated that the MSU contributed over $20,000 towards the budget for the market.
With its impressive array of decorations, vendors, food and activities, the McMaster Holiday Market is a must-visit event. Stop by the arts quad today to kick off your holiday season!
C/O Travis Nguyen
While the holiday season may be welcomed, the extreme shift to total relaxation can cause us to “crash”
By: Ardena Bašić, Contributor
The holiday season is often a welcomed time off for many, especially students who face their exams period immediately prior to the break. However, given that we are exceptionally busy beforehand, the decrease or change in responsibilities can be a shock to our system.
Although we certainly deserve the rest after busy and stressful times, we must balance that with different endeavours and activities to ensure that we are not putting ourselves in significantly contrasting environments. Such an approach will allow us to get the most out of the holiday break and return to school and work with a renewed sense of motivation.
Many individuals become acclimated to such high levels of productivity, particularly students who must balance their school work, extracurriculars and other endeavours on top of maintaining their health and social lives. In the moment, we often fail to realize how much of our energy is coming from the sheer adrenaline of all our obligations, likely alongside copious amounts of caffeine.
Thus, when we take a break from such a hectic lifestyle, the drastic drop in our stressors often leave us feeling drained and lethargic, a phenomenon often called ‘adrenal fatigue.’ In fact, going from one extreme to another — overworking to completely resting — could leave us feeling worse off.
Thus, when we take a break from such a hectic lifestyle, the drastic drop in our stressors often leave us feeling drained and lethargic, a phenomenon often called ‘adrenal fatigue.’ In fact, going from one extreme to another — overworking to completely resting — could leave us feeling worse off.
Ardena Bašić, Contributor
We need to find a place in the middle of this continuum that will allow us to recharge without radically lowering our adrenaline levels.
There are a variety of activities and methods that can allow individuals, no matter their specific interests, to find this balance. For example, some hobbies can be both restful and stimulating to the brain and body at the same time.
Reading, exercising and listening to or playing music all have beneficial effects on the body and mind, but are not as taxing as arduous readings or complex essay prompts. Moreover, social interactions can be highly energizing for some individuals, especially after being deprived of them during the pandemic. It not only has physiological benefits since humans are naturally social creatures, but it also helps abate feelings of loneliness and isolation that can be extremely draining on a person. Finding solidarity in finally getting a break after a long semester can also be a great bonding tool among students!
Of course, such approaches will vary for everyone. Some people who are more introverted may find that individual activities are a better way to stay occupied without creating overbearing stressors during the holidays.
Furthermore, one cannot expect every day of the break to be the same. Our energy levels fluctuate constantly and we need to respond as needed. This may mean being outside and active with friends for one day and then deciding to stay in for a movie marathon by yourself on another.
So long as we are not keeping ourselves on one end of the spectrum for a prolonged period of time, we can find a healthy equilibrium between complete rest and the hustle of our daily life.
So long as we are not keeping ourselves on one end of the spectrum for a prolonged period of time, we can find a healthy equilibrium between complete rest and the hustle of our daily life.
Ardena Bašić, Contributor
In sum, although the holidays may seem like the perfect time to fully recharge, we have to balance such rest with engaging activities to ensure that we do not completely crash. Given the spirit of the season, reaching out to loved ones and peers, finding new or old forgotten hobbies or simply taking what comes with the day can allow one to reach this balance.
Take care of yourself and those around you and you will come back with a new vigour for a successful next term!
