First things first. This attentive student makes a valid point: does a Christmas dinner really need to take place during Christmas? After all, it’s the most wonderful busiest time of the year. You spend your holidays back home, then one of your housemates suddenly decides to go on a hibernation surf trip in January, another is booked solid with exams, deadlines and work, and somehow everyone’s schedule just refuses to line up. Before you know it, leaves are growing on the trees, the hay fever starts kicking in, and you still haven’t had your Christmas dinner. But hey – the Christmas tree is still up, so it counts as a Christmas dinner, right?
Simple, yet effective. Bonus points if you take Polaroids. I’d imagine neatly tied ties in the first picture and ending up on people’s heads in the second.
Also: let’s appreciate the act of actually taking photos. Because honestly, how often do we forget? Your student years fly by, and this way you’ll have something to look back on when you’re grey and old, reminiscing about your student days.
We love speeches! It’s always a good idea to practice your public speaking skills: academically approved. However, this submission does raise some questions. If it’s a tradition, can it really be unprepared? Is there never a type A housemate who planned what to say? And what happens when you’re sitting at the table with, say, fourteen other people? Does it become some kind of endless speech where people end up thanking their neighbours’ cat for an inspirational year?
Actually… Thinking about it, that sounds like a lot of fun.
This sounds like a little holiday crossover! Sinterklaas meets Christmas, or, as we call it in Dutch: ‘Sinterkerst’. For those not familiar with the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas: it’s a celebration in early December where people exchange gifts (like ‘Secret Santa’), often accompanied by a personalised poem that you need to read out loud. Always a great way of making fun of your housemates.
Who doesn’t love Christmas lights? This house gets it. One thing, though: when you say “8 lights,” do you mean 8 strings or 8 tiny individual bulbs? Because 8 strings sounds cute, but 8 tiny lights? Pathetic… In that case, we’ll come back in 2040 when you’ve finally filled your house with a decent amount of Christmas spirit.
🎶 “He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice. He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice.” 🎶
Usually, Christmas has us wondering whether we ended up on Santa’s “naughty” or “nice” list. But in this house, you might find yourself on a completely different kind of list. If you’re a wrecker, or just someone who talks with their hands a little too much, congratulations - you’re the reason this list exists.
This time, though, it’s less about worrying whether you’re on the list, and more about the list you make. Because if you play it right, you could end up winning something! Let’s hope it’s that bottle of champagne your housemate just knocked over...
Now this sounds like a proper tradition! Old residents coming together with current residents: we can only imagine the fun stories passed around at the table. And let’s not forget the effort of cooking for 30 people. And then the tree of wisdom. Yup, this tradition gets 10/10.
From the Wisdom tree to the good old Christmas tree. There’s nothing quite like decorating a tree together (and hopefully playing some classic Christmas tunes while doing it). And even more special to make it part of the initiation of new housemates. The Dutch word ‘ontgroening’ (which can literally be translated as ‘degreening’) takes on a whole new meaning here.
Christmas dinner or American-style eating contest? My oh my, I can’t imagine how full (and exhausted) one must be after one Christmas dinner in this house. Still, credit where credit’s due: ten points for originality.
