Peek at the Week: December 12
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
In The Dark Knight, Harvey Dent said, “The night is darkest just before the dawn, and I promise you, the dawn is coming.”
Happy Last Day of Classes, Wildcats! As the final day of classes, today foreshadows the impending wave of finals, a week full of late nights, term papers, cram study sessions, stress, exams, and caffeine, lots of caffeine. In my experience, finals week is a collective experience of equal parts togetherness and misery (unless you’re the Hermione Granger type, I suppose). We’re all in this together, but we all wish it was over.
Today also marks a little over a week until winter break, a whole month where you’re not required to sit through another lecture or work through another lab. So, Wildcats, the dawn is coming. Good luck!
THIS WEEK AT FALVEY
Monday, December 12
Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, and Staff
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free
Tuesday, December 13
Stress-Less Healthy Happy Hour with Pals for Life | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Room 205 | Free
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free
Fall 2022 Film & Philosophy Series: François Truffaut’s Day for Night (La nuit américaine) (1973) | 5:30 p.m. | Room 415 | Free & Open to Villanova Community | Refreshments Served
Wednesday, December 14
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free
Thursday, December 15
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free
Sunday, December 18
The Learners’ Studio/Center for Speaking and Presentation | 3-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free
HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK
Today, Dec. 12, is Gingerbread House Day. Although this is a December tradition that I have never partaken in, gingerbread houses make festive (and delicious) decor for the holiday season. If you have the time, the space, and most importantly, the patience, decorate your very own gingerbread house for the holidays. Or, if you’re not the decorating type, visit Peddler’s Village for their Gingerbread Competition and Display. The displays features some truly amazing gingerbread house designs, and there’s also plenty of places to eat delicious food and to get some last-minute holiday shopping done.
If you’re looking for something sweet that’s perfect for the cold winter weather, tomorrow, Dec. 13, is National Cocoa Day. With the cold weather settling in, tomorrow is the perfect day for a nice piping cup of hot cocoa to stay warm and satisfy your sweet tooth. Celebrate with a cup of your favorite hot chocolate, whether it’s home-made or from a coffee-shop. Although I am typically a Dunkin’ loyalist, Starbucks’ hot chocolate is amazing.

Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV
Not quite satisfied with hot chocolate? International Tea Day is this Thursday, Dec. 15, a perfect way to survive finals season. Whether you need to push through a study session with some black tea, wake up refreshed with some green tea, or de-stress with chamomile after a grueling exam, celebrate with a nice cup of tea.
Friday, Dec. 16, is National Ugly Sweater Day, a holiday tradition equal parts endearing, ridiculous, and comfortable. You can celebrate the occasion by wearing an ugly holiday sweater. If you don’t have one, thrift stores and Walmart are both great places to go. And, if you’re really in the spirit, you could host an ugly holiday sweater party with your friends.
Sunday, Dec. 18, marks the beginning of Hanukkah. For any Jewish readers, I hope your week is full of light, family, delicious oil-fried foods, and gelt (the monetary kind or the chocolate kind).
Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Library.