Photo courtesy of Shawn Proctor, Communication and Marketing Program Manager.

Falvey staff members Brian Warren, Library Technology Developer (second row, second from right), and John Banionis, Metrics and Assessment Librarian (bottom row, first from left), along with Nicole Subik, Director, Learning Support Services (second row, first from right), sing joyful carols to all those in attendance at the University’s staff Christmas party on Thursday, Dec. 15. Interested in joining Villanova’s Faculty-Staff Choir? The volunteer choir accepts singers of all ability levels and interests. For questions or more information please email Betsy Springuel (elizabeth.springuel@villanova.edu). Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Looking for more holiday tunes? Check out this playlist by Olivia Dunn ’23.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Library. Her favorite holiday albums—The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait and A Swingin’ Little Christmas by Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery, Tim Davis and The Tony Guerrero Quintet.

By Olivia Dunn

With Christmastime approaching, it’s time to start listening and appreciating the season before it passes you by. Rather than opting for the classics such as “Jingle Bells” or “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” at every chance you get (although there’s nothing wrong with that), consider checking out the multitude of pop music various stars have offered over the years with the convenient broken-down guide provided below. Happy Holidays!

Classics:

These pop hits have stood the test of time and are just as likely to be heard on the radio as any other Christmas carol. Out of all the classics, these three are the best of the best.

“All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey – Say what you want about this song, as it has gained a reputation for being overhyped, but it’s simply not Christmas without at least a few (or hundreds of) listens.

“Last Christmas” by Wham! – This song is the perfect choice for those who could do without the same cheery tone of most Christmas songs.

“Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber – Upon its release in 2011, this song easily became a staple for both middle school girls and non-Justin Bieber listeners alike.

Sleepers:

While these songs often get overshadowed by their more-famous counterparts, they are just as deserving of multiple listens throughout the holiday season.

“Cold December Night” by Michael Bublé – While Michael Bublé has become known for other famous tracks off his beloved holiday album simply entitled Christmas, “Cold December Night” deserves fame in its own right.

“Christmas Eve” by Justin Bieber – One of the more soulful tracks off of Justin Bieber’s Christmas album, “Christmas Eve” makes for the perfect listen during your family’s Christmas commute.

“Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson – Once you hear this song for the first time, you’ll never be able to get it out of your head, and you’ll enjoy every minute of it. 

Worthy Covers:

With a limited amount of Christmas carols in existence, it can be difficult to decipher which covers are the best. Over the years, these three have remained tried and true staples.

“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé – While it was hard to choose just one cover from Michael Bublé, this song sums up the simultaneous anticipation and nostalgia associated with Christmas perfectly. 

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Sam Smith – This slowed-down take of a classic Christmas song is a match made in Christmas heaven with Sam Smith’s vocals.

“Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry Darling” by Pentatonix – Pentatonix gives a fun and unique spin of “Winter Wonderland” by pairing it with Bob Marley’s fan favorite hit, “Don’t Worry Darling.”

View my full holiday playlist below. From all of us at Falvey, we hope you give these picks a listen and have a happy and healthy Holiday season! 

Olivia Dunn is a senior at Villanova University. She works in Falvey Library as a Communications and Marketing Assistant and majors in Communication with specializations in both Journalism and Public Relations.

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

Photo by joshua herrera on Unsplash

Christmas is a little over a week away, and this means that Christmas specials will begin (if they already haven’t) filling the airtime of most cable channels and streaming recommendation lists. In the spirit of the season, or simply as a way to bring some merriness into the bleak week of finals, this weekend’s recs will share some Christmas specials for festive enthusiasts and Grinches alike.

If you have 4 minutes and 18 seconds…and need some (violent) humor in your day, watch this SNL “A Christmas Carol” sketch. If you’re a fan of old SNL, you’ll be happy to know it features prior cast members, Steve Martin and Martin Short.

If you have 22 minutes…and need some Michael Scott cringe (or hilarity), watch “Christmas Party” from The Office‘s 2nd season, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. Although The Office has quite a few Christmas episodes, “Christmas Party” was the first and, arguably, one of the best.

If you have another 22 minutes…and look forward to another Belcher family Christmas each year, watch the most recent Bob’s Burgers holiday special, “The Plight Before Christmas.”

If you have 51 minutes…and are a fan of the family-friendly classics, watch The Year Without a Santa Claus. If you have cable, you will likely have ample opportunities to catch this old-timey Christmas special, and it is, in my opinion, one of the bests. (I mean, the Snow Miser and Heat Miser songs earn their iconic status).

If you have 1 hour and 28 minutes…and have a chaotic family that keeps the holidays interesting, watch Four Christmases. An ode to children of divorce and emotionally immature parental figures, this Reese Witherspoon/Vince Vaughn comedy might just make you feel a bit better (or at the very least, validated) about your Christmas-time family antics and woes.

If you have 1 hour and 45 minutes…and want to watch a slightly newer “classic,” check out the ultimate Jim Carey holiday film, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection. In all honesty, this is my favorite Christmas movie of all time, so I might be a bit biased when I say it is worth a watch, but…it’s worth a watch.

Photo by Samira Rahi on Unsplash

Bonus: this recommendation practically goes without saying, but watch Elf this holiday season, also available in Falvey’s DVD Collection.

If you have 2 hours and 7 minutes…and are tired of re-watching old Christmas films, watch Spirited. Released over Thanksgiving, this film updates Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a comedic twist. Plus, as a bonus, it stars Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell.

Bonus: For all the MCU fans, Iron Man 3 and Hawkeye are both set around Christmas time and are perfect for those who want something only tangentially related to the holidays.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.

Thanks to all the Wildcats that stopped by Falvey’s Semi-Annual Stress Busting Open House yesterday. Donut stress about finals—Good luck, Nova Nation!

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Library. Photos courtesy of Stahl and Shawn Proctor, Communication and Marketing Program Manager.

Photo courtesy of Shawn Proctor.

Photo courtesy of Luisa Cywinski.

Photo courtesy of Gina Duffy.

It’s the holiday season! Falvey Library staff assembled the Christmas tree on the first floor yesterday. Staff (and students passing by) were able to hang ornaments on the tree and enjoy some hot chocolate and an assortment of desserts. Stop by the library to enjoy the decorations during the remainder of the semester: The building is open 24/7. View the full listing of service hours here. Looking for research support? Subject librarians are available for assistance Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. or by appointment.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Library.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Othello, Shakespeare wrote, “Our bodies are gardens, to which our wills are our gardeners.”

Happy Labor Day, Wildcats! By going to Villanova and furthering our education, we are all tending to our gardens. We have the immense potential to better ourselves in the process, but a garden that is over-watered or overworked will wilt.

Take a break this Labor Day. Do something that makes you happy. It might just make your garden bloom.

THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Tuesday, September 6th to Thursday, September 8th

The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4:00-9:00pm | Room 301 | Free

Friday, September 9th

Villanova Gaming Society Meeting | 2:30-4:30pm | Speakers’ Corner | Free & Open to the Public

Check back next week for more awesome Falvey Library events and exhibits!

HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash

Today is Labor Day, as you likely know, but there also are some other fun holidays coming up this week.

Tomorrow, September 6th, you can cross off a book from your reading list by celebrating National Read a Book Day. Whether it’s one of your favorite re-reads, a recommendation from a friend, or a new novel you’ve been dying to start, this Tuesday is a perfect day to crack open a book and read (But we might be a little biased at Falvey).

If you’re more of a numbers person, this Friday, September 9th is International Sudoku Day. So, find a newspaper, grab a puzzle book, or open your app and play some Sudoku.

Friday is also International Box Wine Day. If you’re 21 or older, buy some Franzia to celebrate and (responsibly) enjoy the weekend.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Verse 64 of Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu said, “A journey of  a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Welcome and welcome back, Wildcats! A new year at Villanova brings new beginnings, whether it’s your first year or your last. As you embark on your 2022-2023 journey, remember that all of your fellow Wildcats are taking the step with you. Happy fall semester!

THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, August 29

Mindfulness Mondays | 1-1:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free & Open to all Villanova Students, Faculty, and Staff

Check back next week for more awesome Falvey Library events and exhibits!

HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

Celebrate We Love Memoirs Day on Wednesday, August 31, by reading or listening to one of your favorite memoirs. If you need a bit of humor in your day, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel provides some genuine laughs and things to reflect on (and, bonus, as a graphic novel, it’s a pretty quick read).

September 2 is College Colors Day. So, if you’re stuck picking out an outfit for Friday, throw on some blue and white to show your ‘Nova pride.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.

Happy Holidays, Wildcats! Enjoy this new mashed potato mashup playlist while studying for finals, traveling home, or just for some relaxing backgrounds tunes. These calm tracks are perfect for any gathering. Looking for more music? Check out the original mashup here.

• 1) “Where’s My Love” by SYML
• 2) “Oh My Stars” by Andrew Belle
• 3) “The Bones” by Maren Morris & Hozier
• 4) “I Will Not Take My Love Away” by Matt Wertz
• 5) “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles
• 6) “Nothing Can Change This Love” by Sam Cooke
• 7) “Rearview” by Andra Day
• 8) “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges
• 9) “Willow” by Taylor Swift
• 10) “Buckets of Rain” by Bob Dylan
• 11) “Seven Hours” by Lucy Schwartz & Aqualung
• 12) “Tip of My Tongue” by Kenny Chesney
• 13) “Love Is Everywhere I Go” by Sam Phillips
• 14) “Present Tense” by Pearl Jam
• 15) “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac
• 16) “Promise” by Ben Howard
• 17) “Lost Stars” by Adam Levine
• 18) “All Is Well” by Austin Basham
• 19) “Here You Come Again” by Dolly Parton & Willa Amai
• 20) “She’s Got A Way” by Billy Joel

Bonus playlist: Kallie’s Chords—Merry Everything. Play the holiday hits here.

• 1) “Run Rudolph Run” by Chuck Berry
• 2) “Good King Wenceslas” by Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery, Tim Davis & The Tony Guerrero Quintet
• 3) “O Christmas Tree” by Tony Bennett
• 4) “Merry Christmas Darling” by The Carpenters
• 5) “Winter Wonderland” by Kenny G
• 6) “Hallelujah” by Pentatonix
• 7) “Winter Song” by Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
• 8) “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Home Free
• 9) “Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby & Davie Bowie
• 10) “Snow” by Leslie Odom Jr.
• 11) “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” by Vince Guaraldi
• 12) “Lights On” Tyler, the Creator feat. Ryan Beatty & Santigold
• 13) “Jingle Bells” by Frank Sinatra
• 14) “Glow” by Kelly Clarkson & Chris Stapleton
• 15) “O Come O Come Emmanuel” by The Civil Wars
• 16) “Frosty the Snowman” by Fiona Apple
• 17) “Last Christmas” by She & Him
• 18) “We Three Kings” by Ella Fitzgerald
• 19) “Little Saint Nick” by Surfaces
• 20) “Joy to the World” by Whitney Houston & The Georgia Mass Choir

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.

Movie Guide—Countdown to Christmas 2021. Image courtesy of Hallmark Channel.

Who doesn’t love Hallmark movies…Okay, I know not everyone likes Hallmark movies. So if you don’t like cheesy holiday cheer, this isn’t the blog for you. If you’re one of the people who likes Hallmark’s holiday classics (or someone who doesn’t publicly share their Hallmark fandom) you’re going to want to keep reading.

Now, before I continue with this article, I fully acknowledge that Hallmark movies are not Oscar-worthy films. Almost all of them feature over-the-top acting, quirky characters, overused clichés, and the same predictable plotlines. However, that formulized narrative is what makes them so appealing. “The human brain loves patterns and the predictability is cognitively rewarding,” explains Pamela Rutledge, Behavioral Scientist, Director of the Media Psychology Research Center and Media Psychology faculty at Fielding Graduate University. “Those predictable story arcs that draw on the standard patterns we recognize from fairytales offer comfort by presenting life as simple and moralistic…The movies provide simplistic solutions to all those stressors that the holidays can bring: family conflict, isolation or financial pressures.” 

That suspension of reality, as with any entertainment, is a form of escapism for viewers. So, while I may not inherit millions of dollars from a long-lost relative and move to a small town, and then proceed to save said small town from from financial difficulty, all the while meeting the love of my life during the Christmas season—I can reduce my stress level by getting lost in a fictional reality full of hopeful optimism.

While Hallmark is famous for its “Countdown to Christmas,” and Lifetime for “Its a Wonderful Lifetime,” many streaming platforms have also begun to produce holiday-themed films and mini-series that mirror Hallmark’s movie format. We all celebrate the holidays differently, and if Hallmark movies, or similar films, are part of your festivities—embrace and enjoy the cheesy cheerfulness. If not, make some hot chocolate, change the channel, and find another movie that will help you decompress.

If you prefer the page to the screen, try reading a book (or two) that Hallmark films are based upon this holiday season:

• Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe by Melissa De La Cruz (2018)
• A Bramble House Christmas by C.J. Carmichael (2016)
• The Christmas Train by David Baldacci (2018)
• The Angel Tree by Daphne Benedis-Grab (2014)
• Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn (2008)
• A December Bride by Denise Hunter (2013)
• Maggie’s Miracle by Karen Kingsbury (2014)
• A Family Under the Christmas Tree by Terri Reed (2016)
• Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses by Jenny Hale (2018)
• Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber (2017)
• A Christmas Bride by Hope Ramsay (2016)
• The Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere (2016)
• Silver Bells by Luanne Rice (2008)
• The Mistletoe Secret by Richard Paul Evans (2017)
• A Christmas Home by Greg Kincaid (2012)
• Finding Fathers Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn (2008)
• Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas (2010)
• Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler (2019)
• The Christmas Cottage by Samantha Chase (2015)
• The Christmas Club by Barbara Hinske (2016)

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library. Her favorite Hallmark Movie is The Christmas Card.

References: Page, D. (2019, November 16). Here’s why it feels so good to watch those Hallmark holiday movies. NBC News. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/here-s-why-it-feels-so-good-watch-those-hallmark-ncna1080841

Happy Holidays, ‘Cats! Seeing as we were unable to gather together to assemble Falvey’s Christmas tree, we thought we’d share a time-lapse video of last year’s festive fir! The decorating was documented by Shawn Proctor, Communication and Marketing Program Manager, last December. Stay safe and have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a Joyful Kwanzaa!

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.