Liberty celebrates Christmas in Lights
Light Up the Night— Liberty’s newest Christmas tradition includes a 30-foot Christmas tree and thousands of Christmas lights in front of DeMoss Hall.
Liberty students have many Christmas festivities and events to help relieve the stress of final projects and exams. The Advent season kicked off Monday, Nov. 29 with a new Liberty tradition called “Christmas in Lights,” which was marked by the lighting of a huge Christmas tree in front of DeMoss Hall.
Attendees socialized with friends and enjoyed free hot chocolate as the Liberty University Chamber Singers and Concert Choir led students in popular Christmas carols.
Student Activities announced details of the campus-wide dorm decorating contest which began Monday night and also held an ugly sweater contest, awarding winners with tickets to Coffeehouse.
Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. spoke briefly, expressing his excitement to finally see decorations lighting up the campus. He said he hopes that “Christmas in Lights” will continue on for many years as a Liberty tradition and that they can add more onto it each year.
“We’ve always decorated a lot indoors, but we’ve never done any outdoor decorations. This year we’re also planning on installing a nativity scene so that the whole world can see how we celebrate the birth of Christ here,” the Chancellor said.
The Chancellor and his wife, Becki, then made their way to the center of the DeMoss parking lot, where a 30-foot tree had been adorned with lights, ribbon and topped with a golden star. Everyone counted down and after an enthusiastic “one” was yelled, the tree lit up.
Freshman Morgan Hutson said that the event was a great way to introduce the Christmas season and get students in the Christmas spirit.
“I think it’s awesome. It’s really festive and it’s a good tradition that they should keep up. It also really brings us together as a campus,” Hutson said.
Becki Falwell said that she hopes the students feel more at home because of the decorations.
“This is their home away from home. You can’t feel at home unless you have Christmas decorations outside,” Becki Falwell said.
The tree will be lit each night at dusk and will be up through the month of December.