Making Spirits Bright

2014 holiday Infernos dtones concert

by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson

Crèches and cookies; latkes and lights; Ujamaa, Ujima and Umoja; Tripitaka and tea—there are many ways to get into the spirit of the season. And throughout the month of December, there’s an abundance of holiday cheer at Dickinson.

Dickinsonians got into a festive mood on Dec. 1 with a gingerbread-decorating event and the screening of the Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life, the first in a series of on-campus holiday films. Students also attended a Kwanzaa Extravaganza, courtesy of the African American Society, and enjoyed Jewish music and food during Hillel’s Chanukah Party, both on Dec. 6. An interfaith Advent service, hosted by the Office of Community Service and Religious Life and staged just prior to the annual holiday dinner, welcomed Christmas with song.

As in years past, that holiday dinner—featuring fresh crepes and a flambe station—was a big hit, as were various end-of-semester club events, like the recent Exiled spoken-word performance. But for many, it’s the music that makes the spirit bright.

On Dec. 6 and 7, the Dickinson Collegium filled Memorial Hall with carols and choral music, while the college's chamber ensembles delivered a Dec. 9 Christmas concert in Rubendall Recital Hall. And, as expected, Dickinson’s student a cappella groups delivered holiday concerts to packed houses.

Dickinson’s all-male a cappella group, the Octals, kicked off with a Dec. 5 concert featuring an appearance by the college’s all-female group, the Syrens, and the Octals likewise made a guest appearance at the Syrens’ concert the following night. Dickinson’s newest a cappella group, the Crescendevils, took the stage on Dec. 9, and the D-Tones and the Infernos rounded out the season with a joint concert on Dec. 12.

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Published December 16, 2014