For the past couple years, students have been looking forward to the festivities brought on by California Baptist University’s reading of the Christmas Story and lighting of the Christmas tree, or as most may know the event by, the annual Christmas Party.
Unfortunately, the growing interest in ice skating, sledding and other winter games distracted the audience from the traditional Christmas reading, which the Associated Students of California Baptist University and the Community Life Office believed was deviating from the true meaning of Christmas.
After forming a partnership, ASCBU and the Community Life Office planned a different approach to this year’s Christmas festivities.
“We are really focusing it more on the actual reading of the Christmas story,” said Chris Hofschroer, assistant dean of students. “This year (we) are joining forces to basically bring it back to making it more about the lighting of the Christmas tree, the kickoff of the Christmas season and most importantly, the story of Jesus’ birth.”
With so many attractions in past years, the reading of the Christmas story has been overshadowed and many students missed the opportunity to hear the reading.
“I do not remember the Christmas reading, but I would like to hear it this year,” said Nani Villa, senior biology major.
Every year is an opportunity for those who have not heard the story to hear it, and this will be special since the party is geared toward the true meaning of Christmas.
In past years, exciting attractions have been the party’s main focus. This year, tradition is revived through classical Christmas movies, ornament decorating and traditional Christmas music.
The singing of “Silent Night” by the University Choir and Orchestra and the student body lighting of candles creates an uplifting and warm atmosphere during the reading of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Makenna Lammons, senior criminal justice and psychology double major, said she believes in the positive outcome this change can have on the CBU campus.
“Whatever campus-wide event CBU does for Christmas, I want there not to be a question about why we’re celebrating,” Lammons said. “It’s because it’s Jesus’ birth and we want the focus to go to that.”
The hope is that students leave knowing what the season is truly all about and bring attention back to that.
