Each December, students gather in front of Dallas Hall for a Hilltop holiday tradition, and they’ll do it again this Friday.  

More than 138,000 lights twinkle in oak trees as students sip cider, drink hot chocolate, hold candles and listen to their favorite Christmas carols.

Student Foundation hosts Celebration of Lights, with hopes of “putting attendees in the holiday spirit,” according to Student Foundation member Jane Rizzuto.

Student Foundation met Oct. 21 to begin planning advertisements for the celebration.

The campus events board is looking to light up the student body’s holiday spirit with each visit to Hughes-Trigg Student Center.

The building will be filled with decorations and “a lot of Christmas spirit,” decorations committee leader Jenny DeVries said.

Student Foundation President Andrew Conwell urges members to embrace the tradition because of its long history.

The first Celebration of Lights was introduced 33 years ago by founding Student Senate President Mike Miller.

Though part of a long line of SMU traditions, this particular event continues to generate new fans each year.

Freshman Claire Kinsey is just one SMU newcomer who is anxiously awaiting her first celebration this year.

“I have heard all about the lights and how gorgeous Dallas Hall looks lit up,” Kinsey said.

Celebration traditions are subject to alteration each year, but most factors are kept the same. One popular tradition is giving candles to audience members to hold throughout the festivities.

“The candles represent the attendees’ participation and joy, as we join together and light the night,” Conwell said.

  In addition, Meadows students and other musical visitors showcase their talents with a variety of Christmas songs and dances.

Different renditions have been created in past years, but the holiday spirit remains in focus.

While congregating near the steps of Dallas Hall, “students overlook the centerpiece of the celebration, the Christmas tree,” Student Foundation member Katie Broderick said.

Though the tree is tall, it always remains lightless until the end of the celebration. As the final Christmas songs are sung, the tree is lit.

“The tree makes the Christmas spirit 100 times more powerful,” Broderick said.

Once the lights are illuminated, SMU President R. Gerald Turner walks to the podium, opens a Bible and begins reading “A Christmas Story,” which concludes the ceremony. Though the celebration focuses on Christmas, not all attendees are Christian.

 Tia Gannon, a Jewish attendee said, “Celebration of Lights is a great break from studying for finals, and even though I am Jewish, it’s always fun to enjoy the holiday spirit.”

Tanya Wadhwa, an annual attendee and follower of the Hindu religion, agrees with Gannon.

“I am not a Christian, yet at Celebration of Lights, I feel like that doesn’t matter. I really enjoy the music, the lights and how happy everyone is,” Wadhwa said.

 Together, students stand in the main quad and admire the thousands of lights. After the event, attendees are invited to eat cookies and enjoy the holiday decorations in Hughes-Trigg Student Center.

The celebration is Sunday at 7 p.m. No tickets are necessary to attend. For more information, visit www.smu.edu.