By: By Amanda Morgan

Kicking off the 2011 holiday season is Sam Houston State University’s (SHSU) oldest tradition, the 91^st annual Tree of Light ceremony. This year’s ceremony was held in the Bearkat Plaza on Wednesday, November 30.

The Tree of Light ceremony is one of the most treasured traditions held by SHSU, starting in 1921 with a large cedar tree, today the tradition lives on.

This year’s ceremony was kicked off by the SHSU School of Music’s choir students. The choir members were dressed in their own Christmas regalia and really got the event going with an a cappella version of “Jingle Bell Rock”. The choir made the classic tune sound very traditionalist with a flashy flair.

After tremendous applause, SHSU President, Dr. Dana Gibson, makes a reflective speech; looking back on the history and the meaning behind the spirit of the tree itself. Following her speech, Dr. Gibson invited everyone to join her in taking pictures of this year’s tree as it was being lit, and the countdown began.

The crowd, full of SHSU students, faculty and staff with boisterous voices shouted, “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, ONE!” The tree flashed to life, glowing over of a darkened sky and topped off with a brilliant, orange star. The sight started the crowd into cheering and applause.

After pictures were taken and the crowd quieted down, National Champions the Orange Pride Dance Team performs an explosive dance to Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You”.

Once all of the dancing had finished, The Good Sheppard Missions annual canned food drive was announced and all of the SHSU family was invited to participate to uphold the University’s motto: “A measure of a life is its service”.

To wrap up the festivities of the night, the choir sang “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” while the crowd joined in by reverberating, “like a light bulb!” and the other faux “Rudolph” by-lyrics. They followed it up with “Silent Night” and although the song may sing of silence, all was not quiet on Bearkat Plaza as everyone chatted and sipped their free hot coco and piping hot apple cider.

This was quickly stiffened by the announcement that SHSU’s Pan-Hellenic sororities and fraternities were going to be allowed to hang their group’s own special ornament on the tree, as is tradition. Each sorority and fraternity letters were called and they dispersed around the tree to adorn it.

With that, the ceremony officially ended but in the glimmer of the tree’s lights, much of the crowed stayed to enjoy the company of others; to spread their own light and Christmas spirit to those around them.