The Griffin (Chestnut Hill College) – December ’12/January ’13
By Zac Grubb ’12
Photos by Jess Veazey ’13
Christmas decorating night has been a long-standing tradition at Chestnut Hill College – a tradition that has been held for the past 88 years. It started with a class of 15 students who were about to leave campus for the holidays when they decided it would be a nice Christmas gift to the Sisters of Saint Joseph at the school if they decorated the campus. Since that day, Christmas decorating night has been a staple of the Chestnut Hill College community. In the last couple years, however, a new twist has been put on this heartfelt tradition: a contest.
For the past 3 years a panel of judges has decided who “wins” each Christmas Decorating Night by creating the most impressive decorations for their respective areas. For the second year in a row, the Class of 2013 has taken home the gold and won the contest.
This year the themes for each class were very impressive. The Freshmen class took a bold approach, decorating the cafeteria in a “Nightmare Before Christmas” theme based on Tim Burton’s classic stop-motion animation film. The Sophomore class decorated both the outside of Fournier and Fitzsimmons halls with a “Night Light Christmas,” theme, while the Juniors took on a “Winter Wonderland” theme in the rotunda. It was the Seniors who won the night though, with their Harry Potter themed Christmas.
Different houses of Hogwarts were represented with Christmas trees decorated to their specific house colors. Between the 4 house trees was one large tree representing the College and showing off the school colors of white and red.
The hall was decorated with ribbons hanging from each lantern to represent both houses and the school itself. The outside of the cafeteria was transformed into the “Great Hall,” with stars decorating the ceiling, and large, beaming lights shining at passersby.
Senior Class President, Mary Frances Cavallaro ’13 was very happy with the night and led the senior class in a heartfelt toast before they made their way through the halls banging pots and pans to wake the school for caroling, a longstanding finale to Christmas decorating night.
The night came to an ultimate close with CHC President Sister Carol Jean Vale, Ph. D, walking onto her patio and listening to the students come together in a chorus of Christmas-time revelry.
The traditions of the night held true, and a good time was had by all. Thus ending the 88th annual Chestnut Hill College Christmas Decorating Night.
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