While Christmas may be a few weeks away, Creighton started celebrating early.
To kick-start the Christmas season and spread holiday cheer, the Creighton Inter Residence Hall Government hosted the 25th annual Christmas at Creighton event on Wednesday evening.
The event featured the Rev. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. leading the lighting ceremony that displayed the Christmas lights on campus and the banquet in the Skutt Student Center Ballroom. Also featured at the event was a jazz band, the Creightones, snow in the Skutt Student Center, a live nativity scene, and hot cocoa and cider for the students watching the lighting ceremony.
In addition, Creighton welcomed several of the residence hall community partners throughout Omaha to campus. This year Assumption-Guadalupe Catholic School and Together, Inc. celebrated Christmas at Creighton.
“Every year we do try to make it open to as many people in the community as possible,” said Arts & Sciences sophomore and IRHG community outreach chair Jillian Kuligoski. “This year we are holding a canned food drive for Together, Inc.”
Christmas at Creighton stemmed from a small ceremony 25 years ago and has blossomed into the annual event that it is now.
“IRHG started the Christmas at Creighton event in fall 1986 with a simple lighting ceremony for a single Christmas tree on the mall,” Arts & Sciences senior and IRHG president Nick Stukel said. “Over the years, this has evolved and grown. Within the last decade, it has expanded to include lights all across campus, as well as the signature annual banquet for all students to enjoy.”
This year Christmas at Creighton featured something new for the audience.
“This year we [had] something completely new outside,” said Nick Williams, Arts & Sciences sophomore and IRHG vice president of service, faith and justice. “The Student Ministry Team decided to put on a live nativity, so that was something extra that needed to be coordinated with the lighting ceremony.”
In addition to the live nativity, the Creightones’ performance was new this year.
Stukel said that Christmas at Creighton is one of the highlights of the Creighton experience and said that it is his favorite event at the University.
“Whether it be sharing a great meal with your friends, listening to the live music, or being in awe of the lights while sipping on some hot cider, there is really something for everyone to grab onto and cherish each year at Christmas at Creighton, and aside from the fabled t-shirts, I think those special memories are why people keep coming back,” Williams said.
Williams said this event truly stresses the importance of community. She said IRHG hosts the event early so that people can have time to enjoy the holiday season with their friends.
“I really want students to walk away from the event feeling the joy of spending time with friends that comes with this special time of year,” Kuligoski said.