Kicking off the semester is always a buzz. New classes, fresh notebooks, catching up with friends…you can almost feel the campus humming. Then assessment season arrives, exams swallow everyone whole, group chats go quiet… and suddenly the winter break hits, and you’re left wondering why everything feels a little still, a little quiet, a little lonely.
If that sounds familiar, but trust me, you’re absolutely not alone.
Winter is the darkest time of the year, literally. Less sunlight and less vitamin D can really impact how we feel, but that’s exactly why humans have always filled this part of the year with warmth, colour and connection. So, this season, give yourself permission to create a little light wherever you are: string up some fairy lights in your flat, dry slices of orange to bring a pop of sunshine indoors, hit send on that message, post a handwritten card, or find small excuses to meet new people.
Something that’s always helped me (even as a brown, Muslim girl from Finland!) is remembering that community can be found in the most unexpected places. Lots of cafés, pubs and community spaces stay open over the holidays, and plenty of people choose to spend Christmas or New Year’s in town. So, if you’re staying near campus, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and wander into a winter gathering, you never know who else is looking for company too. There are friendly faces everywhere; sometimes you just need to know where to look. 😊
And of course, we’ve got you covered here at the Student Union. Tomorrow, Dec 3rd, we’re going to have our Community Meal to give you a taste of what Christmas in the UK is. And if you’re from here, then take it as an excuse to have an extra Christmas dinner! We also have a Pub Quiz on Dec 12th to celebrate the end of the semester and bring our community together for some festive fun and prizes. There will also be a Multicultural Winter Gathering organised with societies and by student unions from around Edinburgh to try to bring students together for a day.
Honestly, we’d try anything to help you shake off the holiday blues, reconnect or just give you something fun to do. Last but not least, keep an eye on our channels for activities that may pop up to brighten the break.
Happy holidays and keep warm!