Villanova has spent the past few weeks diligently decorating campus. With finals week looming, cheer has not been the main emotion on campus. But what is usually a time of stress (and cold weather), Villanova has managed to turn into a winter wonderland before students’ eyes. And this was kicked off on Thursday, Dec. 5 with a tree lighting on Rowan Campus Green. While the lights and tree have been lit for the past few weeks on campus, this was Villanova’s opportunity to officially host an event and gather all students together as a reprieve from end of semester stress.
With hot chocolate, cookies and soft pretzels available to them, students gathered on an unusually dark campus green to celebrate the official beginning to Villanova’s Christmas season. The Villanova Voices and Singers choirs were singing carols, while students huddled together with their friends, waiting for the event to start. And as students waited, a number of staff handed out battery-operated candles to not only give the event some extra light, but honor longstanding Christmas traditions.
To preview the tree lighting, University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A, Ph.D., regaled the students with the story most important to the Christmas season on campus, the story of Jesus.
Even families who don’t have students on campus came to watch Father Peter talk about this event so central to Villanova’s campus philosophy.
Acknowledging the cold weather, Father Peter invited everyone to count down with him to light the Rowan Campus Green tree. And with a countdown from five, Father Peter lit the tree to cheers from the crowd and phones capturing the moment on video forever.
For many students, this was their first tree lighting on campus. Most of the crowd was freshman who had yet to see what Christmas on campus truly looked like. Freshman Grace Rodemburg was asked how she felt about the event.
“I love it and it’s a great way to lighten up campus since finals are around the corner,” she said.
And that it did. Even after the tree was lit there were still more lights to go. After the official tree was lit, the rest of the trees on main campus sported their own lights and the large “Merry Christmas Villanova” sign topped it all off.
“I love the vibes, love the people, love the energy and there’s a lot of spirit on campus,” freshman Ryan Cameron.
For the freshmen, this was a nice reprieve to their first-ever finals season, and Villanova was eager to take their minds off of it, even if it was just for a night.
But for some, the tree lighting may have been a bit bittersweet.
Senior Juliana Troiano spoke of her final Christmas tree lighting on campus.
“It’s a great way for the community to come together before finals and leaving for break,” Troiano said.
So for the newest students, this event was an exciting one, marking the beginning of their journey as students on campus, with many more tree lightings to come. But for others, this marks the upcoming end of their journey as Villanova students.
Though the fun didn’t stop that Thursday. The next day, the Tolentine Hall parking lot was turned into an ice rink, hot chocolate bars were stationed around campus, and there were even inflatables and a train ride available nearby.
