The Evelyn Chapel and Multifaith Ambassadors will shed light on multicultural holiday celebrations at their seventh annual “Light the Night” event on Dec. 5.
The celebration will feature musical performances and readings from a variety of groups on campus that showcase the meanings of various holidays to students.
Over 15 RSOs will share stories and performances about Diwali, Yule, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Lunar New Year and teaching from the Quran about light.
“Light the Night is a good rejuvenator before the stressful week of finals which tends to feel very dark,’ junior Adna Mujovic said.
Mujovic serves as the head student organizer of the event. “We take a moment to appreciate how light manifests in cultures but in our individual lives as well,” Mujovic said.
Chaplain Elyse Winger shared that the RSOs (Registered Student Organizations) involved in the event are working hard to create a warm and educational environment.
Her team of student organizers wanted to focus on sharing art and stories, and have enjoyed seeing the ways that the RSOs have come up with creative concepts to do so.
RSOs involved include acapella groups, cultural and religious groups and Cohesion Dance Company.
“I love seeing the way each group works to individually create light within their performance,” Winger said.
According to Winger, light is a shared symbol between the holidays being celebrated.
The event is a way to showcase the shared impact of light within each cultural celebration but also to lift up the unique ways light is important to each.
Mujovic said that the event is imperative to the campus community as the semester wraps up.
“It gives students an opportunity to learn about other cultures and faith traditions but also bring people together around the beautiful element that is light,” Mujovic said.
Mujovic shared that she was inspired to get involved with “Light the Night” after seeing the community Chaplain Elyse Winger was able to pull together every year.
Mujovic said that the event pulls students together in a extrodinary way.
“It’s important to learn about other cultures and faith traditions but also bring people together around the beautiful element that is light,” Mujovic said. The event will take place at 6 p.m. in Evelyn Chapel.