The annual mall lighting ceremony of Tuesday’s “Christmas at Creighton” had the campus buzzing with activity. Students huddled in frozen anticipation outside St. John’s to watch the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J. flip the switch that breathes life into the campus during the quiet holiday season.

“It’s really cool that something like this brings everyone together,” said Arts & Sciences sophomore Samantha Schleich.

According to Creighton University historian, Dr. Dennis Mihelich, the unity the students of Creighton enjoy during the holiday season today was nonexistent in Creighton’s earlier days.

“There wasn’t much of a campus spirit back then,” Mihelich said. “Students went home and the Jesuits went to celebrate with family and friends. Then, students would return for two more weeks of class and then finals. Everyone just, poof, disappeared.”

Then, in 1926, two years after the formal creation of a Creighton Student Union, students held raffles and dances and raised $250, the equivalent of a few thousand dollars today, and made 120 gift baskets that, through local charities, were distributed to underprivileged children in the community. Such holiday philanthropy projects were officialized in 1993 with the creation of the “Christmas Spirit Campaign,” which delegated different charity agencies or causes to each department.

However, in the 1960s, the community that was created deteriorated with the building of the interstates near campus. The transformation of California Plaza into Skinner Mall in the 1980s further isolated campus from the bustling activity around it, and it was then that The Rev. Michael Morrison, S.J., president of the University at the time, decided that a Christmas tree be placed at the heart of campus, in front of St. John’s.

Throughout the years, the tree traveled to the front of the Administration Building and later, the Skutt Student Center where it was subsequently removed due to an alleged disease. Morrison’s Christmas tree remains in the hearts of students who remember its days of glory on campus and a tradition and tribute, Fr. Schlegel blesses and lights the tree, shining proudly in its Creighton blue, in front of the Kiewit Fitness Center.

The holiday decorations have since expanded on campus and evolved into the official “Christmas at Creighton” event, spearheaded by IRHG, who, along with the general consensus of Creighton students, seemed incredibly satisfied by this week’s kickoff of the official holiday season on campus.

“Just like any commercial Christmas, the lines were long, the food was good and the children’s choir was great,” said Arts & Sciences sophomore Mike Manning. “But I would say, all in all, everyone seemed to be having a good time, and there was definitely an atmosphere of good will and Christmas cheer.”