Jingle, jingle, jingle. For the Christian holiday of Christmas, this is supposed to be the most joyous time of the year.

But for Iowa State students, shopping for Christmas gifts, or figuring out what you are going to get everyone, is the last thing on your “to do” list.

I’ll admit that my finals week is less hectic than years past, but I have a December trend. I usually get so stressed out I end up getting sick and my vacation isn’t all that enjoyable. But even with the stress of finals week, there are things you can enjoy to remind you of the happiness of the season and to keep you from going insane.

1. Remember your family’s holiday traditions.

Although being bombarded by questions and time demands by my family when I go home, I can’t keep from smiling when I think of opening one gift on Christmas Eve, going to Midnight Mass with my family, opening hoards of gifts on Christmas morning and spending the rest of the day at my grandparents’, where we open more gifts, eat and try to beat my mom at board games.

2. Remember the Christmas traditions you and your siblings, cousins or other relatives had when you were kids.

We all have these. I remember searching through the house for hidden Christmas gifts with my little brother and sister. Mom thought she was sneaky by hiding the presents in her closet or in the car trunk, but we always knew.

Those places were always forbidden, but curiosity always won the battle. Our plans to be secret present detectives were foiled when Mom and Dad started hiding the presents at grandmas. Oh, jinkies!

But the best part of spending Christmas with my siblings was our holiday music. We decided to grace Mom’s music collection by making our own selection of holiday songs. After making a list of songs, we’d take to the microphone and record ourselves singing “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night,” “White Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” complete with echoes. Mom loved hearing our screeching young voices playing on the deluxe stereo with cassette player and 8-track.

3. Incorporate your memories into this holiday season.

There are the little things about Christmas that make it so special — even in the hustle and bustle of shopping and finals week.

What really reminds you of Christmas? Is it the Salvation Army volunteer ringing a bell outside stores? Is it the sound of Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas”? Is it the sight of overjoyed children opening up their gifts? Is it the frightened but excited look on a child’s face as he or she sits on Santa’s lap in the mall?

Is it a snowman in someone’s yard? Or lights decorating people’s house and Christmas trees?

Is it helping out less fortunate families by giving them gifts or inviting them over for dinner? Is it volunteering at a shelter so others have a meal to eat?

Whatever Christmas may mean to you, there is a special joy associated with the holiday — even under the stress of money pinching, finals and crowds. It is a season that reminds us of the importance of your loved ones and friends.

So, during this finals week, take a break from studying and go make snow angels, decorate a tree, drive around to look at the lights, listen to Christmas music, donate food, buy a gift for a child and kiss someone under the mistletoe. Then, have a great new year!!

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Erin Payne is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Rock Rapids. She is the opinion editor of the Daily.