12 Days of Hecom – Staying Connected this Christmas 

Day 1- Christmas movie marathon

As the nights get colder, what’s better than snuggling up with snacks and watching a Christmas movie marathon? Here is a list of the best Christmas films to get your movie night started. 

• Elf

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas

• Home Alone

• The Nativity

• A Christmas Carol

• The Nightmare Before Christmas 

• Fred Claus

• Jack Frost 

• Love Actually

Day 2-Christmas baking for students

Baking is a fun and cheap Christmas activity to do with your friends before going home for Christmas.  

Chocolate Christmas Biscuits 

40 mins

Makes 50

Ingredients

• 270g plain flour

• 50g cocoa powder

• 120g Icing Sugar

• 150g butter

• 2 eggs

• Decorations (i.e., sprinkles, icing sugar, melted chocolate)

Method

Step 1. In a bowl mix together the flour, cocoa, icing sugar and add a pinch of salt too.

Once combined add in the butter and then the eggs. 

Step 2. Kneed the mixture quickly until you have a smooth dough. Wrap the dough in foil, press flat and let it chill in the fridge for 30 mins.

Step 3. Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line a couple of baking sheets with baking parchment. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured worksurface to about 3mm thin. Cut out shapes from the dough. Put the biscuits on the baking sheets.

Step 4. Bake for 7-10 minutes, depending on the size of the biscuits.

Step 5. Let the cookies cool and then decorate and enjoy!

Day 3- Get crafty to make your office more welcoming

Make your careers office more festive this Christmas with some simple DIY decorations. 

3D Paper Snowflake Decoration 

Materials:

• 6 pieces of paper

• Tape

• Scissors

• Stapler

Instructions:

1. Fold your paper diagonally.
2. Cut off the excess paper at the bottom.
3. Fold the paper in half.
4. Cut three diagonal lines along the non-folded edge of your paper.
5. Unfold your paper after trimming.
6. Tape your centre flaps together.
7. Flip and tape all the flaps to the middle of your snowflake.
8. Repeat all the previous steps for the other 5 pieces of paper.
9. Combine all six of the papers together at the middle point and use your stapler to hold them in place.
10. Staple each section together using your stapler.

Day 4- Christmas day games to play

We have made a list of fun games to play on Christmas day to add more even more joy to the day!

• Christmas family trivia

• Board Games

• Guess Who

• Charades 

• Treasure hunt around the house

Day 5-See our study tips blog

The end of the first term can feel really overwhelming as deadlines and exams loom closer. We have created a blog post full of tips to help get you through the study season. Follow this link to read- 8 Effective Study Strategies.

Day 6- Fun Christmas Fact! 

Did you know 'Jingle Bells' was the first song played in space?

Day 7- 5 Uni cities with the best Christmas markets 

Join the festive cheer before the term ends! Have a hot chocolate while sat in an igloo with your friends at your Uni cities Christmas market.

Here is a list of the Uni Cities with markets you don’t want to miss.

• Manchester
• London
• Nottingham
• Edinburgh
• Birmingham

Day 8- Give this Christmas

During the festive period it is important to think of those less fortunate. There are many ways big and small you can give to help others have a merrier Christmas.

• Donate to a local foodbank
• Volunteer at a charity
• Partake in one act of kindness a day
• Buy gifts that give back
• Have a charity bake sale/Christmas jumper day at work/school

Day 9- Fun Christmas Fact 

Did you know candy canes date back to 1670!

Day 10- Recommended Last posting dates for Christmas 

Day 11-Homemade hot chocolate recipe

5 mins

Makes 1

Ingredients

• 250ml milk of your choice

• 1 tbsp cocoa powder

• 1-2 tbsp soft light brown sugar

• 25g chocolate, finely chopped

• 1 tbsp squirty cream 

Method 

Step 1. Heat the milk, cocoa, sugar and chocolate in a small pan over a medium heat until steaming and the chocolate has melted. Whisk to dissolve the cocoa.

Step 2. Pour into a mug and add any extra flavourings you would like (i.e., cinnamon, caramel, or peppermint), then add the cream on top. 

Day 12- Fun Christmas Fact 

Did you know the world's tallest Christmas tree would, at 2,600ft tall, need more than 16,000 baubles, over 4,000 meters of tinsel, almost 2,500 meters of lights, and an 80-meter-tall star?