Lights and Luminaries 2022
The Festival of Lights and Luminaries 2022
The Festival of Lights & Luminaries unites the Elon University and Town of Elon communities around shared imagery of light, and celebrates the diversity of our religious, spiritual, and ethical traditions, worldviews, and identities. Our 2022 Festival is centered around the theme: Celebrate the Light!
Campus clubs, programs, and communities will be sharing their traditions with visitors to the Festival, which this year will take place on November 29, 2022. The Office of Sustainability will offer Sustainable Holiday Wrapping Kits, there will be music stations featuring Elon’s Brass Band, Choirs, and A Capella Groups, and of course, there will be plenty of hot chocolate and cider.
2022 Tables and Stations:
Lights and Luminaries: Celebrate the Light
Surtal & Diwali: The Hindu Festival of Lights
Come learn about Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, and about how Hindus throughout the world celebrate.
Floating Lanterns with the Asian Pacific Student Organization
Although the exact design and use of lanterns is different, many Asian cultures observe a holiday in which lanterns containing wishes are floated. Come write your wish and set it afloat on a lantern.
Light Upon Light: Expressions of Islam
Learn about Muslim Life at Elon and the Elon Muslim Society, and enjoy traditional sweets.
Light in African traditions: Kwanzaa and more
Discover Kwanzaa, an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture.
Making Spirits Bright with Spirit and Pride
Pick up a take-home-kit to make an origami lantern, and learn more about about Spirit and Pride
Shine the Hanukkah Light with Elon Hillel
Celebrate the upcoming holiday of Hanukkah with treats and candies, and ritual items, such as dreidels and a Hanukkiah (menorah)
Chabad Spreading Light
Come learn about Hanukkah and enjoy chocolate gelt, menorahs, dreidels, music and swag!
Advent and the Legend of the Candy Cane with Catholic Campus Ministry and LEAF
Enjoy delicious candy canes. and learn about the connections to Christianity and about the Advent Season.
Letters to Santa with LEAF
Pen a letter to Santa to be delivered to the North Pole.
Sparklers to celebrate the light
Light up the night with sparklers around the Fonville Fountain in front of Alamance.
Winter Wonderland
Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures
The Caribbean Students Association
The station will include authentic Caribbean Johnny bakes and hibiscus tea, as well as small, hibiscus-shaped and scented candles for participants to take home.
Saturnalia with the Classics Club
This table will share information about ancient Roman holiday of Saturnalia, which was in part a “festival of light” in anticipation of the winter solstice. Come enjoy holiday-themed activities and snacks, plus information about the ancient festival itself.
Polyglot LLC
Come play a matching game where participants are invited to match the word “light” to the language that it’s written in, and also match illuminated sites and attractions with their locations.
Chinese Club 中社！
The Chinese Club will celebrate the light with red lanterns and starry-themed decor.
Celebrate the Latkes with the Hebrew Club
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the light, and the Maccabees’ oil lasting for eight nights. Join the Hebrew club for delicious potato latkes and learn about the joyous holiday of Hanukkah!
German Club
This table will be a craft station; attendees can make an advent or holiday wreath (all interpretations are welcome).
The Italian “Epifania” with the Italian Club
This station will tell the story of La Befana, and how the light of the star that guided the wise men also led La Befana to search for the Christ Child. We will celebrate the light through showing its importance not only to the wise men, but to this very important figure in Italian culture.
The Arab World with the Arabic Language Association
This table will represent the Arab World and the major religious celebrations that dominate the region.