OPINIONS
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OPINIONS
Holiday humbug
Sometimes stress can weigh down on the holiday season like a heavy snowfall. HOPE N.S. JEFFERY
Don’t get me wrong, the holidays can usher in a variety of great things, like bringing families together or coaxing out the spirit of giving in people. Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad things that can occur at this time of year. Christmas can place a large amount of stress on many families. For some, this season may bring up negative emotions any number of reasons, from missing family members due to a recent passing or being separated by a great distance to stress from financial burdens. A heavier workload can lead to increased stress — as university students, we all know this. During the holiday season, people with retail or sales jobs are often given more shifts so that businesses can
manage consumer demand and the influx of shoppers in malls. Others may pick up extra hours at work, so they can make more money to afford gifts for family and friends. With children being off from school during the holiday break, parents may need to take time off work to be home to look after their kids, forcing one parent to work extra to make up for lost income. Even the weather at this time of year can have an impact on people’s mental and physical well-being. Although holiday songs and decorations are meant to bring cheer, the gloomy weather and decreased amount of daylight are doing the opposite. With shorter and colder days, people tend to spend most of their time indoors. Students who live in campus residences might be able to stay indoors and wander the warm tunnels as long as
their class locations allow for it. However, some people might feel down in the cold winter months from a lack of sunlight, which travels through the optic nerve and releases “happy” chemicals like serotonin. All of this stress can push people towards unhealthy coping mechanisms such as heavy drinking or overeating. Unfortunately, drinking and driving is a prevalent issue at this time of year despite our attempts as a society to try to put an end to it. According to research in the United States, the number of alcohol-related accidents seems to spike twice a year: in the summer months and again in December. Yet, Canadian researchers report that the spike occurs in the fall, with rates dropping to the lowest levels of the year in winter months. But this doesn’t mean that
Jaymie Stachyruk / Graphics Editor
there isn’t any risk on the roads this season. In 2010, Statistics Canada reported 1,200 incidents of impaired driving over each weekend approaching Christmas and New Year’s. Drinking rates also spike this time of year. The Ontario Public Health Association noted that LCBO saw significant sales peaks between Dec. 6 and Jan. 2 and the lowest dip in sales immediately afterwards. One can assume that, if people are aware their drinking habits
are being tracked, they may alter their alcohol intake or their self disclosure of such. It’s not hard to imagine the increased number of accidents caused by impaired driving with trends like these. This season isn’t all cheer, and it’s clear that the holidays can be really hard for everyone. Some of us may relate to all of these humbug holiday feelings, while some may love being jolly during the season. We can all try to take care of ourselves and others over the break.
A very Sasky Christmas: Ask an Agro’s holiday favourites Show your Saskatchewan pride this holiday season with local gifts, even on a student budget. ASHLY DYCK
When I first moved to Saskatchewan, I thought only wheat and canola were produced locally, but was I wrong! For years, I’ve been wowing folks back in British Columbia with the variety of Saskatchewan-made gifts that I bring home for the holidays. Whether you’re spending the holidays out of province or in the next county over, Ask an Agro has compiled a list of locally sourced gift ideas perfect for those on a student budget. Booze: Is it a cliché to mention alcohol first? Who cares. The amount of microbreweries and distilleries in Saskatchewan has grown exponentially in the last 20 years, and the changes made to the liquor laws in 2016 have made it even easier to find these local libations at a store near you. Last Mountain Distillery, Lucky Bastard Distillers and Black Fox Farm & Distillery produce a wide variety of locally made spirits that are available at both private and provincial liquor board stores. You can also buy straight from the distillery, which even lets you sample the goods.
Our favourite is Black Fox. This company grows 90 per cent of the ingredients that go into its gins, vodkas and liqueurs. Paddock Wood Brewing Co., Saskatchewan’s first microbrewery, even allows customers to create their own six pack, so they can take home whatever combination of beers wets their whistle! If you can’t manage a trip to the brewery itself, you can find most craft beers at liquor board stores for a much smaller markup than what’s placed on spirits. Black Bridge Brewery’s IPA, Rebellion Brewing Co.’s Lentil Cream Ale and High Key Brewing Co.’s Jolly Roger Ale are our top three picks. Even if someone on your Christmas list has a gluten allergy, they can still enjoy locally made products from Crossmount Cider Company. Their cider is gluten free, available at any local liquor store and made using 100 per cent Canadian apples. Honey: Crops need pollination, and as one of the country’s main producers of cereal crops, Saskatchewan also has a blooming honey industry. Though it may harden over time, honey never goes bad, making it an excellent gift.
Also, honey produced in different places will have a distinct flavour unique to that locality, known as its terroir. This means you can truly take the taste of Saskatchewan home with you for the holidays. Local honey and beeswax candles can be purchased at SaskMade Marketplace, Black Fox and The Better Good. Hemp: Commercial hemp production was legalized in Canada in 1998, and Saskatchewan currently holds the country’s highest number of Industrial Hemp Licenses and Registrations. Hemp is the nonTHC version of marijuana — it contains only 0.03 per cent THC compared to an average of 8.5 per cent in marijuana — and it can be used to make cooking oil, protein supplements and clothing. Hemp fibre has quite the history. In the past, it was even used to make American military uniforms during WWII, when traditional fibre sources weren’t available. Today, the locally owned Tentree Clothing Co. makes some of its items with hemp fibres. Skincare: Who doesn’t like to
Riley Deacon / Photo Editor The Better Good on Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon on Dec. 4, 2018.
be pampered? Soaps and lotions make a great gift for almost anyone, whether you know them well or not. The Whole Buffalo Soap Co. adds a refreshing prairie twist to the making of homemade soap by using bison tallow instead of the usual coconut oil, palm oil or beef tallow and colouring their soap with clay instead of artificial dyes. Their products can currently be found online, but the owners say they hope to stock store shelves soon. Homeware: If you know the person well, a locally made houseware item like a paint-
ing, photograph, cutting board or a pair of slippers makes for a beautiful and thoughtful gift. The Better Good and the Wanuskewin Gift Shop, both located on Broadway Avenue, offer a beautiful selection of local and Indigenous-made pieces at a range of student-friendly prices. Buying local reduces emissions, keeps tax dollars and profits within Saskatchewan, and provides you with unique and memorable gifts to take home. And it doesn’t have to break the bank if you know where to look. Happy hunting!
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