Winter Holiday Festival celebrates world cultures

Frist Winter Festival

The Frist Campus Center's annual Winter Holiday Festival on Dec. 13 showcased holiday traditions from around the globe. As part of a celebration of Kwanzaa, Marjorie Young, director of Community House, and her son Patrick lit the Ujima candle, which represents collective work and responsibility.

Frist Winter Festival

Lupe Bedoya, a graduate student in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, worked on a holiday treat at the cookie and ornament decorating table.  

Above left: The festival featured a variety of live holiday music, including traditional Romanian Christmas carols performed by Colindătorii.  

At left: Senior Yinka Akinlawon enjoyed the carolers along with her daughter, Phoenix.    

Photos: John Jameson

Frist Winter Festival

Music, food and crafts celebrating holiday traditions from around the globe filled the Frist Campus Center at the annual Winter Holiday Festival on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Princeton students, faculty, staff and family members enjoyed live performances, a variety of holiday desserts and beverages, a cooking demonstration using late harvest herbs and vegetables, classic holiday films, cookie and ornament decorating, a knitting circle, and a Kwanzaa celebration.

Members of the Graduate Music Society performed a range of holiday tunes, including Romanian Christmas carols sung by Colindătorii and selections from the a cappella group Lux and the Klezmocrats.

Frist Winter Festival

The Black Graduate Caucus and Fields Center hosted a traditional Kwanzaa celebration in the Frist Multipurpose Room, which included various artistic and musical performances and poetry readings from students, faculty and staff.

A cultural exhibit, provided by the University Health Services Cultural Awareness Committee, showcased customs of Ramadan, Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and the Chinese New Year.

Frist Winter Festival

A related event at Frist, the Jersey Cares Coat Drive, continues through Friday, Dec. 15. Members of the University community may donate new or gently used winter coats near the Mazo Family Game Room on the 100 level of Frist between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The Winter Holiday Festival was sponsored by the Frist Campus Center, Athletes in Action, Black Graduate Caucus, Dining Services, Fields Center, Graduate Music Society, International Center, Religious Life Council and University Health Services Cultural Awareness Committee.