December 6th delivered a festive experience to campus as students gathered for Grace Christian University’s annual Christmas party, this year called the Whoville Hullabaloo. Students enjoyed an evening packed with games, Christmas treats, and enough laughter to make even the Grinch crack a smile.
A Festive Start
I walked into the party and immediately spotted a long table piled high with Christmas-themed snacks, from ornament-shaped cookies to pretzels coated in white chocolate snow. The drinks stole the show: a refreshing berry punch and a creamy coconut-pineapple concoction. Students mingled, sipped their drinks, and snacked while anticipation for the night’s activities grew.
Games That Brought Out Our Competitive Side
The night began with hilarious icebreaker games. The first challenge, the marshmallow relay, required us to use plastic cups on our hands to transfer marshmallows to a tray as quickly as possible. Marshmallows flew in every direction as students got competitive with their strategies, and the room echoed with laughter.
When the timer buzzed, everyone froze to see which teams had transferred the most marshmallows. The top two teams moved on to the second round. This round challenged teams to launch marshmallows across the room into cups balanced on teammates’ heads. Precision, teamwork, and communication mattered, but let’s just say some relied more on enthusiasm than accuracy. It was pure fun watching marshmallows soar through the air and players trying to catch them in their cups.
The final game, a gift-wrapping challenge, one team member from each winning group of the marshmallow challenge volunteered to become human presents, while the other two wrapped them from head to toe. Bows, ribbons, and plenty of tape transformed the volunteers into extravagant creations. The team with the best-wrapped present claimed victory and took home a prize.
Gingerbread House Showdown
After the games, we shifted to the annual gingerbread house contest. This wasn’t your ordinary “decorate and admire” competition. Teams had to construct houses strong enough to endure the Wheel of Destruction.
The wheel delivered challenges like snow shovel attacks and simulated winter storms. Watching the houses face their fates was both nerve-wracking and hilarious. After the initial destruction, teams received 10 minutes to rebuild. Students showcased creativity and resilience, designing structures ranging from, Christmas villages to a gingerbread cross with the message “Jesus Loves You.”
The judges had a tough job choosing a winner, but the real joy came from seeing everyone’s ingenuity and teamwork on display. Even if your house didn’t survive, the process of building and rebuilding was worth every moment.
A Reason to Celebrate
Of course, while the games, laughter, and gingerbread houses made the night unforgettable, the true meaning of Christmas remained at the heart of our celebration. At Grace Christian University, we know that Christmas isn’t just about festivities; it’s about celebrating Jesus, our Savior, whose birth is the reason for this joyous season. His love and grace are the foundation of why we celebrate, and events like these remind us of the incredible gift we’ve been given.
