Merry Mathmas

Each year, I take my BC Calculus class caroling the last day of school before the Christmas break. The students must take a traditional Carol and rewrite the lyrics to be less Christmasy and more Mathy. We pick the ones that are easiest to sing (those that follow the traditional cadence and rhyme scheme), practice one time, then take to the halls, knocking on classroom doors, where we proceed to sing our hearts out for two or three songs.

We're never that good, but nobody has ever thrown tomatoes at us (and we HAVE sang for the cafeteria workers before!) It's all about being creative, having fun, and spreading Mathematical, Christmas joy before the holidays.

Here's a song I wrote after very few students opted to write a carol. It's to be sung to the tune of "Feliz Navidad" WITH hand clapping and maracas where you deem appropriate.

Feliz Mathidad

We love doing math
Oh ya! We love doing math.
We love doing math,
We even do it when we're taking a bath.

We need some more math.
We've gotta have more math.
Can't get enough of math,
It'll lead us down that primrose path.

We want to wish you a merry mathmus! "What the heck is a 'Merry Mathmus?'" We don't know, but we can discuss it Over many math prob-lems. So when you're out having merry mathmus, Remember math on this special mathmus. and please don't get mad or make a fuss If you can't find and infinite su-um.

So now we must go.
We're getting looks, you know.
So in leaving, "Ho, Ho, Ho!"
Good luck on finals and a mathy new year.

We want to wish you a merry mathmus!
Don't ask us "What is a 'Merry Mathmus?'"
'Cause we're not sure, but we think it might
be something about Pi!

So when you're out having merry mathmus,
Remember math on this special mathmus.
And thanks for putting up with all our mathmus
Adios, so long, and goodbye!