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!
Natalie Timperio
Senior InsideOut Editor
In between the study sessions and Christmas shopping, fitting in time for you this December is important.
By now your calendar is likely filled until the New Year with the much-hyped holiday parties – as if you need the added stress. So, how to incorporate holiday party-wear shopping into your busy schedule while still maintaining a budget?
Shopping for holiday party-wear presents a perfect opportunity for study breaks. Plus, if you’re already doing your yearly rounds of holiday gift shopping, then squeezing in some time for holiday attire is made even simpler.
Of course, there’s added convenience in online shopping, meaning you never even have to leave your computer to shop. The only downfall to online shopping, as we all know, is the inability to try items on prior to purchasing, which can leave you fretting over fit upon the item’s arrival.
However, if you’re willing to take the risk, online shopping can definitely be beneficial for those under tight time constraints – that and the fact that most sites ship free during the holiday season.
Whatever form of shopping you choose, just be sure to keep in mind both look and cost. Men, unlike women, need to worry about over-heating; a few glasses of whiskey coupled with close-quarter interactions all the while wearing a stiff-fitting shirt and pants can leave gents beading at the brow.
ArtOfManilness.com recommends that men stick to cotton fabrics during the holidays, as cotton fibres are cellulose based, therefore allowing heat and moisture to pass through rather than creating a personal sauna.
An added bonus is that cotton fabrics are durable, meaning that most of the time they can be washed at home rather than at the dry cleaners, which will in turn save a dime or two when it comes to cleaning.
The website also recommends that men wear a dress jacket for holiday parties.
Most holiday parties do not require a suit, however, a dress jacket is a good way to maintain that killer look without going over the top.
Dress jackets can add broadness to shoulders, give you an excuse to skip the tie, hide any extra weight you may have gained as a result of the season and provides pockets in which to keep your personals.
If you’re worried that a dress jacket may be too much for the occasion, try pairing it with jeans. Jeans will help to tone down the look while still maintaining that put-togetherness. Or, if you’re really gunning for that “like a boss” look, try tucking a handkerchief into the breast pocket – it’s an inexpensive way to boost your sex appeal.
While women need not worry about overheating in cute-to-boot cocktail dresses, there are a few things they should keep mind. Keeping it classy is key; while your body may be banging, ladies, remember that it’s the holidays (meaning lots of time with dear friends and family), so sexifying your look should be kept to a minimum.
Finding a cocktail dress that hits no higher than your mid-thigh is a good safe zone. Yet cocktail dresses can run a costly price tag. If you’ve missed out on Black Friday deals, don’t worry, as there are alternatives. Try borrowing from a friend.
No one needs to know you’ve borrowed, and, if it comes down to it, simply say she was the one who borrowed your dress before you even had the chance to wear it.
For those willing to brave online shopping, I’ve found success with AmiClubwear.com.
Though a U.S. company, meaning currency conversions and impossible returns, this site offers inexpensive dresses suitable for all types of holiday parties and body types.
The best part? They frequently have sales, with items into the single digits. I’ll admit that while some items can be tacky, with the models often mirroring amateur porn stars, there is plenty of merchandise to choose from, so have patience.
That foolishly dressed person seems to be omnipresent at holiday parties, so don’t let it be you.
But, if all else fails and you find yourself without time or money to shop for holiday party-wear, embrace the ugly, wool-knit sweater and hang out at the kids table.
