Even with finals looming in the next two weeks, many Penn students have mustered up the cheer to decorate their residences in anticipation of the holiday season.
Many who decorate emphasize their desire to share the happiness of the holiday season with friends and hallmates, beautify their residences and make college feel more like home.
"It makes it feel more like Christmas when we have decorations up," College freshman Caroline Repko said of her decked-out Ware College House dorm room.
Popular decorations include lights, bows, garland and even miniature Christmas trees.
Most perceive the decorations to be festive and not necessarily religious in nature.
Repko and her roommate, Nursing freshman Heather Cunningham, decorated their room with Christmas lights, a miniature light-up Christmas tree, nutcrackers, wall-hangings, stockings and even Christmas-themed towels. The roommates, who like to play Christmas music while they work, said they have been talking about the holiday since the start of the school year.
"I think we're both just super-infused with the holiday spirit," Cunningham said.
For some though, the widespread Christmas decorations indicate the commercialization of the holiday.
"I come from the Bible belt," Wharton sophomore and Oklahoma native Nikki Roberts said. "There it's all about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus -- the savior is born, and here it's all about the pretty lights."
This does not deter Roberts from partaking in the holiday spirit, however, as she decorated her Hamilton College House suite with a wreath on the door, colored lights, a light-up tree and a singing cactus.
Many students decorated with the intention of bringing holiday cheer to their hallmates.
"We wanted the room to have a Christmas atmosphere so our friends in the hallway can come here and feel like it's Christmas," Engineering and College freshman James Walker said.
The plan is working, according to College freshman Danny Yoo, Walker's English House roommate.
"Everyone chills in our room now," Yoo said.
Nursing freshman Leia Frimmel and Engineering freshman Amber Taylor also decorated their Ware College House dorm to get into the Christmas spirit. Some of their decorations include a wrapping paper-covered door, a miniature singing Christmas tree and red bows on the bedposts.
Even non-Christians seem to appreciate the decorations.
"I think it's gorgeous," College senior Shaista Vadra, who is Hindu, said about the decorations in the lobby of Harnwell College House. "It adds a lot of light and color to a cold winter."
The Sigma Chi fraternity, located at 38th and Locust streets, also did an extensive job of decorating their house, and they even designated a house brother to oversee the decorations. Although not all of the 17 members living there celebrate Christmas, no one seemed to be offended.
"Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, everyone gets into the holiday spirit," College senior and Sigma Chi philanthropy chair Jeff Organisciak said.
A very Philly holiday The city styles itself as a family-friendly holiday playground. Thanksgiving Day parade: Kicking off the yuletide season is the nation's oldest Thanksgiving procession. Light Show at Lord and Taylor: First seen nearly 50 years ago, shows occur daily, on the hour, through Jan. 1. Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker:Performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet at the Academy of Music, this George Balanchine classic is a holiday favorite. Handel's Messiah: The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Philadelphia Singers Chorale are sure to stir hearts with their rendition of the44-year-old orchestral tradition. Mummers Parade: Dating back more than a century, this New Year's Day celebration fills the streets of Philadelphia with costumed revelers.
