Tree Lighting Ceremony
The Tree Lighting Ceremony is an annual event celebrating the illumination of the lights decorating the trees lining College Walk. To be specific, these are the trees between Kent and Hamilton on the east side of College Walk, and Dodge and Journalism Halls on the west. The event was first held in 1998. The event was created, and organized by Charles Saliba, then junior class president for Columbia College 12. It is held just before finals week in early December. The lights remain on until the end of February.
"Conceived and instituted in 1998 by then class president Charles Saliba, CC’00, the non-denominational Tree Lighting was designed to encourage a sense of community among students, faculty and staff members, and to strengthen their ties to the school." Columbia Record
The event is centered around the sundial, and features free hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, performances by various groups, and speeches by the university president and a guest. At the end of the ceremony, the president pushes the switch to turn on the lights. Supposedly the podium with a big red switch is just for show.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony is followed by the older Yule Log Ceremony in John Jay.
