Festival of Lights and Luminaries Map
Festival of Lights and Luminaries 2024
The Festival of Lights & Luminaries unites the Elon University and Town of Elon communities around shared imagery of light, and celebrates the diversity of our religious, spiritual, and ethical traditions, worldviews, and identities. Our 2024 Festival is centered around the theme: We Shine Brighter Together.
Campus clubs, programs, and communities will be sharing their traditions with visitors to the Festival, which this year will take place on December 3, 2024. The Office of Sustainability will offer Sustainable Holiday Wrapping Kits, there will be music stations featuring Choirs, and A Capella Groups, and of course, there will be plenty of hot chocolate and cider.
2024 Tables and Stations: WE SHINE BRIGHTER TOGETHER
Advent and the Christmas Lights Catholic Campus Ministry and LEAF
The Advent season focuses on Christ’s light coming into the world. We progressively light more candles on an Advent wreath, shining brighter, the closer we get to Christmas. Come enjoy candy canes, educational info about Advent, wreaths, and battery operated tea lights for folks who would like to observe Advent in their homes.
APSA-lutely Bright!
Come join the Asian Pacific Student Association to make lanterns and place messages onto lanterns floating in the Fonville Fountan. You can also enjoy delicious Asian snacks and incense at a table decorated with electrical lanterns and fairy lights in mason jars.
Fellowship and Community: Design Your Own Path with the African Diaspora of Elon
Join the African Diaspora of Elon learn about African winter celebrations, and design wooden ornaments. We will also have delicious donuts!
Letters to Santa with LEAF and Catholic Campus Ministry
Pen a letter to Santa to be delivered to the North Pole. Children of all ages are welcome to participate in this beloved Christmas tradition.
Light Upon Light: Expressions of Islam
Learn about Muslim Life at Elon and the Elon Muslim Society, and enjoy traditional sweets.
Light Wands
Light up the night with fun Light Wands to celebrate how we shine brighter together!
Many Candles One Light
Each menorah has many flames that when lit together creates a brighter world. Join Chabad to learn about Hanukkah, and enjoy donuts, chocolate gelt, candy, and fun swag including a menorah!
Multifaith Scholars
Join us to learn about the ways in which Multifaith Scholars engage with diverse faith traditions in their research, learning, and engagement experiences. The program sheds light on interaction between and among diverse faith traditions through undergraduate research and community engagement. We will also have stickers and delicious treats!
Shine the Hanukkah Light with Elon Hillel
Celebrate the upcoming holiday of Hanukkah with treats and candies, and to learn about the holiday. Students will light the Hanukkah menorah, and shine the Hanukkah lights will shine alongside the luminaries lighting up campus. Come play dreidel, a fun game with a spinning top, and enjoy gelt (chocolate coins).
Surtal – the celebration of light
Join the Surtal, Elon’s Bollywood Dance club to learn about the Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali, and enjoy Indian cookies and treats.
Sustainable Gift Wrap
Join the Office of Sustainability to get your sustainable gift wrap kit! We will have pre-made sustainable wrapping kits that include nld upcycled Pendulums, laser engraved tags, and bows made out of newspaper. We will have tags for all people, regardless of faith or spirituality.
Spirit and Pride and Light
Come to enjoy coloring and scratch art to promote queer community, joy and love through expression and coping mechanisms, and also delicious rainbow candy! We will also offer resources for LGBTQIA+ and spiritually-inclined folks on campus.
Winter Wonderland
Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures
Arabian Delights with the Arabic Language Association
We will have traditional Arab snacks and desserts at our table to share. Also, a calligraphy station where visitors can have their names written in Arabic letters (or a message of their choosing). By bringing food and traditions from another world region, we bring people together and add to the richness of American culture and society.
Italy Illuminated with The Italian Club
Come share and explore Italian Culture! Italian Club will share cultural traditions and celebrations through a passion of heritage, and candy/treats to those who stop by.
La Lumiere with the French Club
Join the French Club for delicious waffles with different toppings (gaufres), a common holiday food in France. We will also offer fun education content about Francophone holiday traditions!
Peaceful Night with the Chinese Club
Around Christmas time, Chinese people, particularly younger generations in urban areas will celebrate 平安夜 by exchanging apples wrapped in paper (which symbolize peace due to a play on words: “apple” in Chinese, 苹果 píngguǒ, sounds like “peace” 平安 píng’ān). This act of sharing small but meaningful gifts reminds everyone that a sense of community can strengthen connections and brighten the holiday season through shared gestures of goodwill and peace.
Polyglot LLC
Join us for a fun game where attendees match the word light in different languages. We’ll also have delicious snacks and candy from different cultures for all visitors to the table.
Saturnalia with the Classics Club
The Classics Club will share information about the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, a time for celebration and gift exchange as a community. Come enjoy holiday-themed activities and snacks.
Tastes of Hanukkah with the Hebrew Club
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the light, and the Maccabees’ oil lasting for eight nights. Join the Hebrew club for delicious fried donuts and learn about the joyous holiday of Hanukkah
Winter Wreaths with the German Club
The German Club will be showcasing German cultural traditions relating to the holiday season, and also how these relate to other cultures. We will have gingerbread and German candy, and a station for making advent wreathes (non-religious). These wreaths, which feature candles, are meant to be used as centerpieces, and bring families and communities together.
Informational Stations
Luminary Locator
The Office of Parent Engagement will have a table Under the Oaks with maps of where luminaries are located, and staff members available to assist students in finding their luminary!
The Senior Circle
Senior Class luminaries are around the Fonville Fountain. We will provide assistance in finding seniors luminaires as well as information regarding upcoming events for the Class of 2025.