November 19, 2024 — The annual Marist Holiday Tree lighting takes place Wednesday night, November 20 — earlier than usual due to the late Thanksgiving holiday this year. Organized annually by the Department of Spiritual Life and Service, the event will feature festive music performed by the Marist Singers, and snacks including cookies and hot chocolate. All are invited to what is typically one of the most fun and photographed events of the year on campus. 

About the Tree
The tree has become a cherished gathering place for the campus community where people can take pictures, chat, and bring warmth to chilly winter days and nights with laughter and love.

Just a few of the 77,000 LED lights on the Holiday Tree. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist College.

It shines in the center of campus with an impressive 77,000 energy-efficient LED lights in 770 strands — much more than the Rockefeller Center tree! Since the 1980s, Marist has celebrated with a tree on campus, with the current dazzling display first introduced in 2002.

Standing between 52 and 54 feet tall, the tree is decorated by dedicated groundskeepers who start in October to avoid extreme weather and ensure meticulous attention to detail. Every fifth light is a vibrant red, highlighting Marist’s school spirit and adding a warm touch of color.

The tree lighting will take place at 5:15 p.m. in front of the Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel.

Holiday Celebrations Span Cultures on Campus
In addition to the tree lighting, this year’s holiday observances will include the installation of an outdoor menorah for Hanukkah near the entrance of the library and a digital display on the large screens in the Dyson Center atrium celebrating the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

“Students from a variety of faith backgrounds have been advocating for more public representation on campus for their holy days,” said Miriam Eisenmenger, Chaplain for the Department of Spiritual Life and Service. “This is a campus that likes to celebrate, honor, and learn from those around us, and moments like this open the door for these important conversations and celebrations.”

This year, Hanukkah begins on the evening of Dec. 25 and lasts through Jan. 2. Kwanzaa begins on Dec. 26 and lasts through Jan. 1.

The seven principles of Kwanzaa are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

These are holidays celebrated around the time of the Winter Solstice, which has deep associations with light, as it represents the turning point from darkness to the gradual return of daylight. 

“Throughout history, people have used candles, bonfires, and lanterns to celebrate this transition, symbolizing hope, warmth, and the promise of longer days ahead,” said Dr. Edward Antonio, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “Festivals of light, such as Diwali, Yule, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas, incorporate lighting traditions that honor the enduring power of light to overcome darkness and bring renewal. At Marist we embrace and celebrate the many ways in which the cultures represented on campus bring light, hope, warmth, promise and inclusion.”