From Chicago

The UO Nice List: Tavi Gevinson

Introduce yourself!
I'm Tavi Gevinson, I edit and founded the online site Rookie Mag, and I edited and art directed our first annual print edition, Rookie Yearbook One.

What do you love and loathe most about the holidays?
I love all the decorations people put up and how a Starbucks run suddenly feels like some holy occurrence and wrapping presents and seeing my sisters. I loathe how quickly the snow gets depressing basically as soon as the holidays are over.

What’s your gift-giving style? Personalized presents, or a Starbucks card for everyone?
Personalized, of course! It'd be no fun anonymously giving threatening ransom notes if I wasn't cutting out all the little magazine clippings myself.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
I got an electric guitar for a birthday/middle school graduation present.

What’s the worst gift you’ve ever received?
I can't think of one, but once my mom got my sister a broom for Christmas.

If you could ask for anything this year (and money is no object) what would you ask for?
Blue Ivy, the child.

What is your favorite holiday tradition that you share with friends or family?
My mom is from Norway, so we do Jul, which is basically Norwegian Christmas, only instead of a nice jolly man who brings you presents, this little troll guy just delivers the ones your family was already giving you, and instead of putting out milk and cookies, you put out this really nasty porridge. There's one tradition where a single almond (OOOOH, AN ALMOND) gets mixed into the porridge pot before it is served, and whoever gets the almond in their bowl gets an extra present, which in our home means something vaguely Judaism-related because we feel bad for neglecting Hanukkah.

What’s your favorite holiday snack or food?
That disgusting porridge, because as much as it disagrees with my taste buds, it's the ultimate signifier of Jul, holding a very special place in my heart. 

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