holidays in boston by Aiden H. '28

It’s officially finals season admissions season cuffing season holiday season, and I’m coming in hot, live from my bed watching Frozen instead of studying for my 8.01 final tomorrow.⁠01 I'm posting this as I leave for the exam :( And despite the genuine lack of any holiday spirit inside of me, I have done a very minor amount of holiday-themed things around campus/Boston to remind us all to have at least a little holiday joy and optimism (whether or not you’re awaiting finals, admissions decisions, or just the general end of the world tomorrow).

Important Side Note: I have a Samsung so I cannot personally be responsible for the bad quality on half of these pictures. Blame the tech, not the player or something.

Campus Decorations

Awaiting me from my definitely giddy and eager return from Thanksgiving break was the campus suddenly decorated with more winter things.

My high school went mildly hard for Christmas decorating by covering our skylights with red and green paper and turning off all overhead lighting in favor of string lights in the halls. Luckily, MIT did not disappoint when it came to abusing the pretty parts of its architecture in favor of the winter aesthetic.

Said decorations from the inside of lobby 7

Also in an attempt to spice up the awful, drab, non-Christmassy exterior of the stud,⁠02 The Student Center they put up a little strip-mall style Christmas set-up. A+ for effort, but idk if anyone has actually taken photos on this thing.

Do I give more snowman-with-a-bad-fashion-sense or burnt-gingerbread-girl?

Lobby 10⁠03 The lobby under the big dome that the Infinite, the main hallway, runs through also has had a random run of holiday festivities, from a couple of pop-up shops to a performance of holiday music by different MIT musical groups.

Glass Christmas decorations being sold one night in lobby 10

A band playing Christmas music on my walk to the T one night

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Boston Tree Lighting

Second chronologically was the annual Boston tree lighting across the river at the Boston Commons. I convinced my roommates and some friends to go the Thursday after Thanksgiving break and participate in traditional, Hallmark-esque winter festivities.

It was also here that I had my yearly crisis where I somehow find myself ice skating and get violently angry at how bad I am.

Francisco G. '28 attempting to take a selfie while we both fail at ice skating

the skates

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It was after this that we made our way towards the main stage/tree area, scarfed down the most 7/10 $10 funnel cake, and listened to the performers while waiting for the tree lighting at 8.

The stage from our view in the crowd (apparently the people who sing Best Day of My Life are from Boston??)

someone was a little overdressed for the occasion

I don't know what this is but it was there

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At last, the mayor of Boston and Santa⁠04 I'm sorry but the lore here is so off. There's no way Santa can afford to take time to go to Boston in DECEMBER to go to a tree lighting ceremony?? Instead of putting those elves to work during their busiest time of the year?? Like it would be believable if it was like October and they were still processing lists, but I don't know how any of these kids could buy into such C-tier storytelling on behalf of the Boston Parks and Rec. were brought out to give the tree her official glow-up.

before Ozempic and Botox

after Ozempic and Botox

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MIT Winterfest

Last week, MIT had a “Winterfest”, which to my chagrin was a glorified excuse for MIT to give everyone a bunch of free food and ambiance. So one cold and lonely night, I walked my way through hell and back⁠05 it was just really windy but I like to heroify myself to go to Stata.

My roommate had just come from his final paper defense for philosophy and I had a UROP⁠06 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. AKA what MIT calls undergrad research meeting, so we ended up lingering around and getting seconds of some of the food while gossiping⁠07 okay maybe just accurately describing and discussing our rare adventures outside of our room and the dining hall past 4:00 P.M.

Come for the cookies, stay for the pretty lights

The cracked lineup

I don't like coconut but these were pretty enough to make me consider sacrificing my taste buds

They had unlimited sparkling waters (...I took three and have no shame)

The cracked lineup

My personal choices (trust there was fs more under the gingerbread and peppermint bark)

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Unfortunately now my level of festivities has drastically declined as I mobilize with the rest of the undergraduate population for our week of bloody combat ahead, but at least like in real war, there will be a period of peace surrounding Christmas.

I wish everyone luck with everything that is going on this upcoming week, and just remember that giving up on life and binge eating cookies for an hour is justified!