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To see a video on LSU's tree-lighting ceremony, click here.
Chancellor Michael Martin flipped a switch after a 10-second countdown, igniting more than 20,000 golden bulbs which lit up the shadow of Memorial Tower at the close of the candlelight celebration on Tuesday night.
The lighting of the 50-foot Christmas tree concluded a celebration welcoming the holiday season to campus.
There was a $6,000 bill attached to the Douglas fir, which included installation and delivery from Christmas Hill Tree Farm in Washington.
The arrangement of the gold lights and purple ornaments was designed by Red Door Interiors, a local decorating company. Erin DeBossier, owner of Red Door Interiors, said she donated a portion of the ornaments to the University.
“My husband and I both graduated from LSU, so we felt like it would be a good thing for us and for the University,” DeBossier said.
Facility services set up and decorated the tree in preparation for its official lighting Tuesday.
More than 150 people met at the clock tower, enjoying hot chocolate and numerous musical talents.
The event began when the University Baptist Church opened with its ringing rendition of the holiday classic “Christmas Bells.” The group was followed by the Cox Choir singing “Go Tell it on the Mountain.”
In the spirit of holiday giving, a sponsor from Volunteer LSU took the stage to petition the audience to donate canned goods, new clothing and toys for the organization’s holiday charity drives.
Hillel at LSU, the University’s Jewish student organization, participated in the festivities by lighting the first candle of the traditional Hanukkah menorah.
While this was a conscious effort to include people outside the Christian faith in the Christmas celebration, some students said there are important things to remember when lumping holiday traditions together.
“Hanukkah is not Christmas,” said Moshe Cohen, coordinator for Hillel. “It is nice that they feel the need to include us, but we would like the University to think about other cultures when it is culturally significant for them.”
Cohen said any step toward celebrating diversity on campus is a positive thing, but because Hanukkah is not one of the Jewish high-holidays, it should not be equated with Christmas just because they fall together on the calendar.
Students, faculty and families from across Baton Rouge attended the event. Small children rushed to the steps of Memorial Tower to frolic in the artificial snow blown from machines set up on each side of the tree.
“I was interested to see how Christmas is celebrated here,” said Shae Thomas, graphic design freshman. “I’ve never seen an LSU Christmas before.”
After the tree was lit, the audience was invited to continue the celebration at the Maddox Fieldhouse.
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Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@lsureveille.com
