Festival of Lights and Luminaries 2023

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 2023 Festival is centered around the theme: Light Unites.

Campus clubs, programs, and communities will be sharing their traditions with visitors to the Festival, which this year will take place on November 28, 2023. The Office of Sustainability will offer Sustainable Holiday Wrapping Kits, there will be music stations featuring Choirs, and A Capella Groups, and of course, there will be plenty of hot chocolate and cider.

2023 Tables and Stations:  The Light Unites
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.

Chabad Spreading Light

Join Chabad to learn about Hanukkah, and enjoy treats, candy, and fun swag. The beauty of the Hanukkah menorah is that one person lights it and everyone benefits from the light and warmth – you can get your own menorah at the Chabad table!

Letters to Santa with LEAF and Catholic Campus Ministry

Pen a letter to Santa to be delivered to the North Pole. Children of all ages are welcome to participate in this beloved Christmas tradition.

Light Upon Light: Expressions of Islam

Learn about Muslim Life at Elon and the Elon Muslim Society, and enjoy traditional sweets.

Light Wands

Light up the night with fun Light Wands to celebrate how light unites!

Matariki – Maori New Year

Join the Native American Student Association (NASA) to learn about an indigenous Maori worldview that when people die, they become stars in the galaxy.  Matariki (the Maori New Year festival) is a celebration of life and honors the ancestors. Matariki is marked by the cluster of stars – Pleiades.

Multifaith Scholars

Join us to learn about the ways in which Multifaith Scholars engage with diverse faith traditions in their research, learning, and engagement experiences. The program sheds light on interaction between and among diverse faith traditions through undergraduate research and community engagement.

Rainbow Station with Spirit and Pride 

Come chat and make rainbow related crafts and coloring pages and enjoy delicious rainbow candy. Join Spirit and Pride for this celebration of queerness – gender, sexuality, and spirituality and learn about resources for LGBTQ+ and spiritually-inclined folks on campus.

Shine the Hanukkah Light with Elon Hillel

Celebrate the upcoming holiday of Hanukkah with treats and candies, and to learn about the holiday.  Students will show people how to play dreidel, a fun game with a spinning top, and give away gelt (chocolate coins) and dreidels.

Sustainable Gift Wrap

Join the Office of Sustainability to get your sustainable gift wrap kit! We will have pre-made sustainable wrapping kits that include newspapers, fabric scraps, yarn, and laser engraved gift tags.  We will have tags for all people, regardless of faith or spirituality.

Winter in Africa

Join the African Diaspora of Elon and learn about African winter celebrations, and make African themed snowflakes. We will be giving out fun merch, delicious African snacks, and lights.

Winter Wonderland
Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures
Arabic Charm with the Arabic Language Association

Join the Arabic Language Association for sweets from the Arab World, and your name written in Arabic.

Winter Wreaths with the German Club

The German Club will be showcasing German cultural traditions relating to the holiday season, and also how these relate to other cultures. We will have gingerbread and German candy, and we will also have a station for making advent wreathes (non-religious).

Latkes at Luminaries

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!

Polyglot LLC

Join us for delicious international candy, and for a fun language game where people match the word “light” to different languages.

Saturnalia with the Classics Club

The Classics Club will share information about the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, the major winter holiday for gathering and exchanging gifts. Come enjoy holiday-themed activities and snacks, including building gingerbread temples.

The Italian Club

Come share and explore Italian Culture! The Italian Club will offer a brief description of an old Italian folklore and candy/treats to those who stop by.

Informational Stations
Luminary Locator

The Office of Parent Engagement will have a table Under the Oaks with maps of where luminaries are located, and staff members available to assist students in finding their luminary!

The Senior Circle

Senior Class luminaries are around the Fonville Fountain. We will provide assistance in finding seniors luminaires as well as information regarding upcoming events for the Class of 2024.