Winter is here, and despite the relatively warm temperatures in Berkeley, we’re celebrating the holidays with cheerful content from Digital Commons repositories.
Many Digital Commons repositories house archival photos of fun campus events, and at many institutions, that means winter sledding, snowball fights, and building snowmen. In 1953, students at the College of Brockport’s campus elementary school look like they had a lot of fun building a somewhat-lopsided snowman. At Asbury Theological Seminary, things appear more fraught with tension as students and faculty prepare for their annual snowball fight. Meanwhile, at Pacific University, their mascot Boxer appears to also be getting into the spirit.
The winter holidays are a time for religious and folkloric traditions and stories, and for arguing about what they mean. For example, is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer an inspiring story about leadership, or an example of an outdated paradigm toward disability? Is kissing under the mistletoe a time-honored tradition or rather strange?
During this time of year our attention also turns to parties and libations. Perhaps you’d like to learn about the history of the cocktail shaker, check out this design schematic for a device that can rapidly chill beer, or listen to the 1963 Wesleyan Jazz Singers perform “Gimme That Wine?”
Remember, though, safety first! Before attempting any snow removal this holiday season, best to put down that drink and read this handy 1989 safety guide from the University of Nebraska. Remember to lift with your legs, not your back, and from all of us at bepress, have a happy holiday season!