The Office of Intercultural Relations, International Student Services and the Office of Student Activities hosted the annual Holiday Festival on Thursday, Dec. 6, at various locations around campus. From 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., there was a Christmas Photo Booth in the Bartels Programming Space where students could take photos with their friends.
From 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Holiday Fest Celebration was held in the Alumni Lounge. This event celebrated the holiday traditions from around the world. Members of the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA), SPELL, Latin American Student Association (LASA), Hillel Club, Black Student Union (BSU), International Student Association (ISA), the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, the Muslim Student Association, the Saudi Student Club, Indian Student Council and the Graduate Student Council co-sponsored the event, and represented many different religious holidays and festivities. Each made a small presentation informing the audience of their specific celebration. The holidays included Christmas, New Years Day, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, EID, Three Kings Day, Kwanza, Diwali, Boxing Day and Chinese New Year.
Several of these holidays such as Christmas and Hanukkah were well-known to many, but the event gave other lesser known holidays and religions the ability to share their traditions. Diwali, for example is the Indian festival of lights and is celebrated for five days to honor of King Rama’s coronation. Eid Al-Adha (EID) is the festival of the Sacrifice. Families who participate in this festival sacrifice a sheep, goat, camel or cow and then divide the meat amongst themselves, friends, neighbors and the poor.
Winter Solstice, also known as Yule, is celebrated at the end of the Solar Year. One decorates a Yule tree with rosebuds and cinnamon sticks on this occasion. Three Kings Day commemorates the Biblical story of the three kings who brought gifts to baby Jesus, and Boxing Day is celebrated the day after Christmas. Those who celebrate Boxing Day give gifts to those who provide services to others.
After each student spoke about their holiday, they walked over to a small table on stage and lit the wicks located on the outer edge of a candle. Finally, President Kaplan spoke on behalf of the UNH community, giving thanks to all the organizations that came forward and shared their heritages and traditions. President Kaplan, along with USGA president Patrick Kelland, lit the final wick located at the center of the candle. This act symbolized unity at UNH, and how diverse groups of people can come together and embrace differences during the holiday season.
Following the speeches, attendees were free to walk around the Alumni Lounge and visit tables set up by each participating organization; customary food and drinks were served. SPELL offered a Yule log, while EID served hummus and Arabian coffee. USGA had assorted cookies, a reminder of the young children who leave out milk and cookies for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. LASA served a Three Kings Cake, the Hillel Club had potato pancakes and BSU offered cornbread. Honey balls were served by ISA in celebration of Diwali, and corn beef and hash was served for Boxing Day. Other dishes included rice pudding for Chinese New Year and wings for New Years Day. The UNH Jazz Band performed a collection of holiday songs at the event, providing a cheery environment for student interaction and overall enjoyment.
After the Holiday Fest Celebration, a dinner was held in Jazzman’s Café from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The night concluded with a showing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and the Twisted Thursday event, Holiday Craft Night. The Holiday Festival encompassed a wide array of holidays represented across the UNH campus. As the fall semester comes to a close, the events brought together students, faculty and staff of all beliefs for a day of friendship and unity.
