'Let there be light'

The Christmas Tree in front of O'Neill Plaza officially returned along with the snow Monday to mark the return of the holiday season at Boston College.

University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., spoke briefly to the roughly 400 students who gathered in O'Neill Plaza to witness the annual lighting of the famed tree. Speaking about the importance of the celebration for Christians, Leahy said, "Let Christ come, let there be light," before signaling for the lights to go on. After a brief delay and a comic request from Leahy for the crowd to pray harder, the multicolored lights finally flashed on.

BC's Jesuit heritage places special emphasis on the Christmas holiday celebrations, as the Christmas tree was just one of the attractions planned for the night by the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC). Santi Bunce, president of the UGBC and A&S '07, read aloud "The Night Before Christmas" in an Irish accent to the general amusement of the crowd.

Santa Claus, jingle bell-infused music, and treats with warm drinks also made an appearance Monday evening, which Katie Gerlich, A&S '08, described as "Just two hours to enjoy the holiday season and not do work."

The band "One, Two, Three, GO!" performed popular songs and holiday jingles throughout the event to entertain the crowd and raise the holiday spirit. Singer and pianist Jarret Izzo, A&S '07, said he was glad to be a part of the holiday celebration. "I think that both Christmas trees and carols appeal to tradition and great childhood memories."

Students eagerly lined up to take pictures with Santa, sit on his lap, and request presents, after which Santa did not forget to ask students if they "had been naughty or nice." There were tables arranged with hot chocolate and cookies with toppings available to help onlookers to ignore the frigid weather.

The hot chocolate was very popular, although it was described by Ryan McGinty, A&S '07, as "a mixture of coffee and tea."

Izzo said he enjoyed the hot chocolate. "It was so cold that my favorite part of the evening was getting hot chocolate deliveries from the audience - it certainly warmed the fingers!"

In sync with the gift-giving spirit of Christmas, Jeremy Kaplan, A&S '07, was fundraising for a non-BC Honduras service trip during which his group hopes to help build an orphanage, library, and school.

Donations of winter wear for Rosie's Place, a women's shelter and soup kitchen in south Boston, were also accepted. Kaplan advised students, "If you have a scarf on you, donate it to Rosie's Place, you can always get one later. A lot of people are really well-off here and shouldn't forget to give to the less fortunate."

Gerlich also believes that the holidays are about more than just receiving presents, candy canes, and putting out milk and cookies for Santa Claus.

"I think in some ways holidays are over-celebrated in terms of materialistic and secular things, but I don't think we necessarily spend enough time with friends and family." The lit Christmas tree serves as a reminder that the holiday season and the end of the semester have finally arrived.