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As the temperature dropped, spirits lifted Tuesday night at the Candlelight Celebration at the Memorial Tower. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and their families held white candles and gathered around a 45-foot Giving Tree Tuesday night. They listened to holiday music and watched performances that concluded with the tree-lighting ceremony. “It’s all fun,” said Randy Gurie, University special events director. “It’s a great coming together. It’s great for the younger kids as well as the older kids like me.” Chancellor Sean O’Keefe spoke to the audience and counted down to the Giving Tree’s lighting at 6 p.m. Three white boxes with red ribbons were placed in front of the tree to hold charity donations of canned food, toys and clothing. Wearing red Santa Claus hats, the LSU Ambassadors served hot chocolate, cider and cookies. Andree Hode, psychology sophomore, volunteered with the Ambassadors and helped people find places to sit to watch the performances. “I love Christmas, and I love to see them light the tree at the end,” she said. A five-piece brass ensemble from the College of Music and Dramatic Arts and the University Baptist Church bell choir played “Noel,” “Joy To The World” and other popular holiday songs. The men’s glee club directed by Drew Bowers and the Baton Rouge Concert Band directed by Sheilly Bell also performed. The Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre presented an portion of “The Nutcracker,” which it will perform at the Baton Rouge River Center Theater for the Performing Arts next weekend. Joshua Reeves, mechanical engineering sophomore, said he enjoyed the performances and passing the flame from his candle to others. “Everybody gets to be united,” he said. Eric Reid, Parking, Traffic and Transportation assistant director, talked about the history and significance of Kwanzaa. “One of the misconceptions about Kwanzaa was that it was created to replace Christmas, but this is not the case,” he said. “It is a cultural holiday not a religious one.” Reid said the spirit of Kwanzaa should be observed all year. “It is a way of life not just a celebration,” he said. Rabbi Barry Weinstein and three students from Hillel kindled a menorah, sang traditional blessings of Hanukkah and talked about the history of the holiday. The group left one candle unlit as a symbol of hope and peace. “May we all be blessed by flames of peace and hope and shalom,” Weinstein said. Olivia Lincoln, theater freshman, said she enjoyed her first Candlelight Celebration. “It’s a really nice experience to get everyone on campus together,” she said. Children eagerly lined up for a chance to tell Santa Claus their holiday wish lists. Peter Franz, 4, said he asked Santa Claus for a trampoline that would do anything he told it to. “I would say ‘Turn into a robot,’ and it does,” he said. The Staff Senate hosted the 17th Holiday On Campus at the Fieldhouse following the Candlelight Celebration. “I think it’s really nice when we get the LSU community together for events like this and open it to all students, faculty, staff and their families,” said Carolyn Landry, Staff Senate president.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]