holiday published by The
WHAT’S INSIDE EVENTS
Fill out your holiday calendar with our help
Auburn Plainsman
page 2 BAKING
A Plainsman parent shares a family pie recipe for the holidays page 3 GIFTING
Are you lazy? We are too. We’ve got you covered
page 4 PICTURES
Looking for a backdrop for that Christmas card? page 5 FOOTBALL
Get up, we’ve still got one gameday. Here are the bowl predictions
FILE PHOTO
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HOLIDAY CALENDAR All events hosted in December 2018. Event information via by Auburn and Opelika Tourism Bureau.
1st
• Opelika’s Christmas Parade in Downtown Opelika at 10 a.m. • The 23rd Annual Christmas Cookie Walk at Grace United Methodist Church from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. • Polar Express Holiday Celebration at Jan Dempsey Art Center. Departure times: 9 a.m., noon and 2:30 p.m. • Santa at Niffer’s at the Tracks from 12-2 p.m. in Opelika.
5-9th
• Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour in Opelika’s Historic District on 8th and 9th streets. The tour was voted one of the Southeast’s top-rated tourism events.
7th
• Christmas in a Railroad Town in Downtown Opelika from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Festivities include: children’s train, pony rides, large/small animal petting zoo, wagon rides, trolley rides and more.
8th
9th
• Jingle Jog 5K and Santa Fun Run in Downtown Auburn at 7 a.m. • Holiday Movie at The Plex: The Santa Claus at Opelika SportsPlex from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. • “Back in Time”: A Tradition Filled Historical Holiday Celebration at Pioneer Park in Loachapoka from 5-8 p.m. • Auburn Gingerbread Village unveiling at The Hotel at Auburn University from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. • Auburn Christmas Parade in Downtown Auburn starting at 2 p.m.
November 29, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman: Holiday Special Issue
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food
the perfect chocolate meringue pie
INGREDIENTS •
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PIE CRUST Your own or a Pillsbury Crust from the refrigerated section of your choice grocery store. 2 TBLS MARGARINE/BUTTER Butter if you are cool. Butter if you are bad. Butter because we are southern.
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1 CUP OF WHITE SUGAR
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2 TBLS OF WHITE BAKING FLOUR
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2-3 TBLS OF COCOA
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2 EGG YOLKS Mix them before.
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1 TSP OF VANILLA To fill a large pie crust, double the ingredients by 2.5.
DIRECTIONS THE KEY TO THIS PIE IS TO TAKE YOUR TIME AND DO NOT RUSH. PREPARE AHEAD: • Mix the sugar and cocoa together in a medium-sized bowl. • Prepare your homemade crust or prepare the pre-made crust per directions on the box for a cooked shell/filled pie. THE FILLING: • The filling is best done in a large cast iron skillet. It’s how your grandmother would make it. • Heat the skillet and then melt butter. Add the sugar and cocoa mix to that and mix well. • Add in flour and mix well. • Add in egg yolks and try hard not to let them fry on the bottom of the pan. • Add milk slowly. This will bubble up and can splatter. Be careful. Here is the patience comes in, folks. Stir slowly and continuously as this mixture cooks for at least 10 minutes. Don’t take your eyes off of this pan. • Mixture will gradually thicken. • Add vanilla toward the 8-10 minute mark and stir well. • Once thick, take off the heat and leave to sit for a bit. Pour this into your cooled pie shell. THE MERINGUE: • Add your favorite whipped topping or a homemade meringue. Brown the meringue in a 350-degree over for 8-10 minutes or until it turns a shade of light golden brown. RECIPE CONTRIBUTED BY PLAINSMAN PARENT CELIA JACKSON
It’s all about Christmas cheer for Santa’s helper By ELIZABETH HURLEY Community Editor
When mall patrons enter the Auburn Mall’s main entrance they are greeted with a Christmas scene and a resilient smile from a familiar Christmas figure. He rests in an oversized forest green chair which is set in front of a painted log cabin scene decorated for the holidays, surrounded with Christmas trees draped in white lights. His set is enclosed in red velvet ropes to ensure shoppers don’t walk in a photo, which his helpers take for parents. This holiday icon that is plastered on decor and Coke cans this time of year is rarely found waiting in that chair. He likes to wander the food
court to perform magic tricks and pass out candy canes. Some smaller patrons are not as open to meeting the tall man in the big, red coat and long white beard. “I try not to traumatize the parents, the child, myself,” Santa said. “I’d rather have a happy experience.” He bends down to eye level with a young girl as he pers through his spectacles. She takes a small step backward toward her mother who ushers her child closer. He extends a small candy cane that she hesitantly takes and offers to take a photo with the girl. She and her brother step closer as their mom pulls out a smartphone to take a quick photo of her children. After the photo, the children quietly
thank him and continue on their way through the mall. His day is filled with many interactions just like this one, and it’s all for the children, he said. The children, in fact, are the reason he began this job several years ago after meeting other holiday helpers on evening after dinner. He signed up for Santa Claus school where he learned how to help the big man in the sleigh during his busiest time of the year. It was during a special training session that he found his purpose. “It was a session on special needs children,” Santa said. “It melted my heart. I gotta do this.” From then on he has spent the holidays
» See SANTA, 4
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The Auburn Plainsman: Holiday Special Issue
November 29, 2018
SANTA » From 3
gift ideas for the lazy gifter
By SAMANTHA STRUNK Campus Writer
You take the elevator to the second floor. You haven’t made it to your 8 a.m. class in the past three weeks. Laundry is alarmingly low on your priorities list. You’re lazy. And for you, the holiday season may seem like an unnecessary stressor. Why do you have to get friends and family Christmas presents? Don’t the people you love already know you love them? Why doesn’t a “Merry Christmas!” text suffice? If a few of these things resonate with you this time of year, here are a few ideas for the lazy gift giver.
CHARGING CABLES/PORTABLE CHARGERS A quick bulk order of these online, and you’re set. You can never have too many charging cables or portable chargers, and people are often pleased to receive them. SOCKS As a child, excitedly ripping off wrapping paper to find a pair of socks is frustratingly underwhelming. In the adult world though, opening socks is akin to striking gold. Generally, the fuzzier or tackier the socks, the better. LETTERS If you’re word savvy and have a pen and paper — or a crayon and napkin — nearby, letters are an easy, cheap and sentimental gift. Letters are said to come from the “heart,” so no one can in good faith protest to receiving one. Bonus points if it’s sappy enough to make your loved one tear up. “MY PRESENCE IS YOUR PRESENT.” It’s an idea, but please don’t be this person. WALMART HAS REALLY STEPPED IT UP. Walmart is everywhere, and word on the street is the prices are always low. Run through the clearance section, and grab as much as you can. The weirder the gift, the bigger the smile.
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GIFT CARDS Gift cards are perhaps capitalism’s best present to this country. They can be purchased virtually anywhere, you can load monetary amounts based on your own budget and they easily fit in one’s pocket. Very few people complain about free money.
AMAZON This online marketplace is a lifesaver during the holidays. The company uses computer magic to get products from your screen to your doorstep in a timely manner. The service is optimal for all breeds of lazy from “I don’t want to leave my house,” to “Oh no, it’s December 23rd.”
DITO OE OT
meeting thousands of children of all ages and helping them get their Christmas lists to the North Pole. He is a member of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas, which helps to provide background checks and insurance for Santa’s helpers at malls and other holiday functions. “It’s not a big city,” Santa said. “I know that, but it’s a community. It’s the same families that come in the mall every other day, it’s the same children.” Some of his fondest memories are at the Auburn Mall. During the 2017 holiday season, he remembers two buses filled with 24 pre-k students pulling up to the mall doors. They came in to sing to him. He then passed out bells to all of the children, so they could all sing jingle bells together. “To get 24 pre-K doing anything together is monumental,” Santa said. For this Santa it’s all about the children. “From special needs children to the hide behind the parents’ legs, those that run up and tackle me just to get a hug,” Santa said. They are all open and love to talk with him, Santa said. That’s why he keeps a journal of all his interactions. Each day he journals about his experiences that day and places all the children’s wish lists in his journal. Occasionally the photo printer will print extra photos that the photo staff gives to him. “It’s a large binder by the time the season is over,” Santa said. “It’s a very large binder filled with memories.” Everyday community members of all ages pass by and greet him. Some stop for photos while others pass of their Christmas lists. “Most everyday I have tears,” Santa said. “Tears of joy, tears of disbelief, tears of wonderment. I just love to listen to the children and their little stories.”
gifts
November 29, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman: Holiday Special Issue
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Places to take Christmas card photos on The Plains By SAMANTHA STRUNK Campus Writer
Is there a stack of holiday cards sitting next to your fridge yet? Have you started stressing about getting some Christmas pictures made? Are the colorful lights and green Christmas trees inspiring you for some photos? Auburn is full of cute small town charm perfect for a holiday picture session. Where to go? SAMFORD It’s cliche, it’s overdone and it’s adorable. One day, years from now, you’ll cherish your photos on Samford lawn. Especially when it’s been decorated for Christmas. Take your significant other or your family. TOOMER’S CORNER Another Auburn classic is Toomer’s corner. For your family and friends who don’t live in Auburn, they’ll love a sweet picture of you, friends and family at such an iconic Auburn joint. Grab some photos outside the drug store, along the busy corner or next to the War Eagle wall. RED BARN What colors do you associate with Christmas? Red and Green. What color is the red barn? You guessed it. This is a perfect spot for some adorable Christmas photos. Bundle up in fuzzy coats, scarves, hats and even bring the pups along for some memories to remember.
CHEWACLA STATE PARK Bit more adventurous and up for an outing? Chewacla is full of great spots to take pictures, especially if you’re willing to search for them. Bring your photographer and get some photos this Christmas full of the nature that surrounds you everyday. Your natural, outdoorsy Christmas photos will be lots of fun for you, your family and your friends. THE AUBURN COMMUNITY Let’s be honest, Auburn is a cow college. Drive around campus and out into the community, and you’ll see lots of fields, small ponds, cows and wildlife. Get some gorgeous photos with a field background and beautiful sunset to remember your college years by. PROVIDENCE CANYON Wanting a taste of the west? Providence Canyon is the little grand canyon of the south. It’s only an hour and a half from Auburn and absolutely gorgeous. Full of towering canyons, colorful rocks and fun for all ages, this is a great, totally unique picture spot. CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS There are a number of Christmas tree farms located near or around Auburn. Such places are not only fun for picking our your tree but for grabbing some festive photos. The green trees and a good photographer can turn this into a dream photography spot. Christmas cards might not be as popular among college students, but they are a fun way to remember your time at Auburn.
& Flea Mall
Holiday Hanging Sign get your Holiday decor WitH angel’S!
334-745-3221 • angelsantiqueandfleamall.com 900 columbus Pkwy, oPelika 36801 oPen everyday 10-7 • sun 1-5
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The Auburn Plainsman: Holiday Special Issue
November 29, 2018
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‘tis the season for bowling: auburn’s possible bowl destinations narrowing S T R
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TEXAS BOWL VS. IOWA STATE Houston, Texas
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LIBERTY BOWL VS. TCU Memphis, Tennessee
November 29, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman: Holiday Special Issue
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Finding the Christmas candle alternative for dorm life By TRICE BROWN Campus Reporter
Scented candles are a popular amenity any time of the year, but especially during the holiday season. They come in all sizes and scents, from woodsy balsam and cedar to sweet Christmas cookie. However, students looking to bring some more holiday spirit to their dorm or apartment have some roadblocks to work around. An open flame, no matter how small, can prove hazardous if left unattended. Students who take the appropriate precautions and never leave a burning candle unattended should have no problem adding some holiday flair to their apartments — but not dorms — with scented candles. According to the Auburn Student Policy Handbook, burning candles or incense is prohibited in the residence halls. It states that candles may be used for decoration, but the wick cannot be burned.
Despite this, students in dorms still have options for holiday-themed aromas. Wax warmers are a popular alternative that aren’t prohibited in residence halls. Wax warmers use heat to melt wax cubes, sometimes called wax melts, to release the relaxing aromas. Students have a wide variety of scented wax melts available online, in locally-owned stores and in supermarkets. Since nothing is being burned in a wax warmer, they are a practical and easily-accessible alternative for candle-craving students. Packs of wax melts are cheap and offered in a wide variety of scents, from holiday-themed aromas like Christmas tree or peppermint to year-round fragrances like mahogany teakwood or lavender. Reed diffusers are another option, which use reeds to spread a scent from essential oils. The reeds collect the oil and disperse the scent via evaporation — no heat involved. While the scent is gen-
erally weaker than that of a wax melt, it can last a considerably longer amount of time. Reed diffusers are a great option for students who don’t have an open outlet or don’t want to deal with the potential mess of spilling wax on a hard floor or carpet. However, they have their own problems. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, those with asthma should exercise caution when using reed diffusers. Studies have found that some diffused essential oils release volatile organic compounds associated with nocturnal breathlessness and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. There isn’t a clear choice between reed diffusers or wax warmers, as each has their own benefits and drawbacks. What’s certain is that students looking to add some flavor — metaphorically speaking, of course — to their dorms or apartments have legitimate options in the absence of traditional candles.