A favorite holiday tradition has followed us to college, though this bears more of a sense of competition than comfort. The annual Gingerbread House Competition, an architectural and artistic extravaganza that does not require previous experience, just a sense of holiday spirit, took place on Wednesday, November 28.
This year, there were roughly one hundred groups, each composed of four team members, were armed with four tubs of frosting, one gingerbread house kit, and thirty-seven bags of various candies and foodstuffs to enhance the exterior. And that was just the beginning.
The candy in front was up for grabs, as well pounds of frosting, which disappeared soon after the competition began: “I ran really fast – it was intense. There were elbows thrown…that’s all I’ll say,” said Lexy Ashburne, of “Team Cinnamon and Spice.” This sentiment was shared by “The Flying Monkeys,” who were building the house from “Up!” Team members explained, “We’re very competitive people.” Matt Rocheleau of “The Gingersnaps.” Luckily, their competitive nature did not detract from their gingerbread experience. While working, Rocheleau’s teammate Zach Camenker explained, “This is so stressful, but I’m having a great time…this is a great effort by the college to promote the holidays.”
For some, it was their first year: “This is our first year, we’ll feel it out…we want the experience and to make a classic gingerbread house,” explained Sierra Swords, member of “Best Roomies Ever.” Other students were returning participants. Hannah Wiley, of “J7” was also excited to compete: “We’re seniors, so we’re really happy we did it this year.”
Some teams, like “B5+1=Shenanigans,” crafted graduation caps and other symbols of impending graduation. Despite a plethora of more traditional designs, there were a number of unorthodox, yet fantastic, ideas. For example, “Team Snowflake” recreated the Pantheon. Team member Rebecca Pelletier admitted: “We thought it would be intimidating.” Despite their reservations, the team’s gingerbread house bears a remarkable resemblance.
“The Goofy Goobers” made the Quidditch Stadium because, as team members Christina Maloney and Christina Coronis put it, “We’re in it to win it”. The “Goody Goody Gumdrops 2” fashioned a scene entitled: “A Boxcar Christmas: One Hobo’s Story.” The “One Hit Wonders” made “Ray Charles in the Park.” “One Hit Wonder” team member Marie Schwab explained, “every year, there aren’t many gingerbread houses that incorporate music…we wanted to make one.”
“Prime Six” built a lighthouse, and appreciated the opportunity participate in the contest. Team member Janna Moen explained that the contest “is a SAC tradition!” One very energetic group, “The Spitfires,” constructed “The Anselmian Express” which, according to Jess Love, “bring Hogwarts to life at St. A’s.”
Perhaps the most interesting entry in the competition was delivered by team “CAT,” who had built a “Hipster Santa Claus Mustache Sleigh” which was pulled by cats instead of reindeer. Team member Tori Bryant stated: “There’s nothing like making gingerbread houses to fill you with holiday spirit, with your friends who celebrate your talent.” For some, the technique was less important than the experience. “The Average Joes” explained “We’re just kind of winging it – we’re making a lake and a house.” “Dream Team” member Erika Pakalnis explained “We’re having fun, we’re going to make snowmen…We’re getting into the Christmas spirit, with great friends.” Andrew Chen, of Son of a Nutcracker said that he and his team were “Just trying to have some fun, plain and simple.”
Many agreed that bringing certain ideas to life were much easier in theory than in practice: “Planning was a lot harder than anticipated,” said Luke Robins of “SAC Skiing,” who built “Big Ben,” the famous British landmark. “It may look bad now, but it’ll be a mountain later”, said Alicia Sorell of “The Jingle Bells.” Sorell explained that her team was so named because the Jingle Bells “rock.”
Many shared the same Anselmian spirit, stating that they loved to spend the Christmas season in the presence of their peers and involved in such joyful activities. The overall atmosphere and feeling of the evening was probably best described by Tatyana Hoyt of “Team Squoose:” “We’re going to make MAGIC”. And if one was lucky enough to be in Davison during this event, they could not help but agree.
Don’t forget to vote for your favorite house or structure! Polls are open until December 6th!