Why I love Bridgemas 

Although Bridgemas technically fell on a Monday this year, there’s still no better start to the week than Cambridge Christmas festivities. There’s so many things to enjoy about this time of year. Not only is it still Autumn – the leaves are changing colours into fiery reds, yellows and oranges that fill up the pavements with unrelenting speed, (only to be swept away I sometimes think to myself, sadly) – but you’re still with friends, and away from the familial awkwardnessof pushing the brussels sprouts to the side when all you really want is the meat. Your friends wouldn’t care. Mum does.

The first thing to love about this time of year? Decorations. Bright lights, bubble-like city doesn’t have the same kind of ring to it as the Cee-Lo Green original, but the Cambridge City Council has already begun hanging them up! The same can be seen with the many pubs enticing people out of the cold and into the warm rooms with a good ale.

Mulled wine and mince pies. I could stop there but, just think about it, the taste of hot mulled wine after coming in after a long day out in the cold (or in the UL where central heating in North Wing seems non-existent) is heavenly. Add mince pies to the occasion and it’s a perfect way to eat delicious food, and escape (momentarily at least) the feeling of essay dread and panic.

And finally, among the many other things to enjoy at Christmas, it’s presents! Giving someone a nice gift, or receiving one, is a great thing but one of the most enjoyable elements of Bridgemasis the added challenge of the student budget. Secret santa is nothing new, nor are price limits in general, but make it £10 and the pressure of getting an expensive and thoughtful gift is reduced massively. Last year I was given a mug shaped like a toilet. I guess it’s the thought that counts. 

David Godwin

Why I hate Bridgemas

I love Bridgemas. I really do. The lights, the friends, and the increasing sense of freedom as another term at Cambridge comes to an end. Yet I can’t help thinking the concept is fundamentally flawed.

First of all, it’s a bit early. I mean, I can party harder than Charlie Sheen – but for a whole month? It’s kind of pushing it if I’m honest. Also, I think the world has come to the universal conclusion that Christmas food is a bit shit. We all subscribe to the lie every year that we like mince pies and fruitcake, though I for one can’t keep up the illusion for more than a week. Two months of pretending brussels sprouts are a seasonal delight is two months too much for me.

And what about Christmas music? Does anyone like it? I’m a massive Slade fan, but every time I hear Noddy Holder scream “It’s Christmas” I want to slay every glam-rocker I see, though admittedly such sightings are much rarer these days. And Cambridge makes it worse – they have a habit of singing carols without the oh so necessary irony. I sup- pose it’s all well and good but it seems half of them are in Latin, and unfortunately loquor non est labium.

On a more serious note, I can’t help feeling it brings out the worst excesses of Cambridge. The drink, the pomp, the butter-toffee accents. I’m not a Puritan; drink is lovely. However, when Bridgemas becomes an excuse to suit-up and drink-up then suddenly I’m not a fan. Maybe it’s time to go all Tiny Tim, but surely Christmas is about inclusion – not exclusion – and Bridgemas should be the same. So this year, invite round that random Anglia Ruskin student you met at Lola’s. Make peace with the Land Economist next door to you, and buy him some chocolates – or some socks. Even invite your friend up from Oxford to show them the error of their ways. You don’t have to go crazy overboard though; John’s can still go fuck itself. 

Nathan Smith