Amid changes to the structure of the academic year, Trinity’s annual Christmas tree lighting will take place on November 28th – two weeks earlier than usual.
The lighting, which is a much-loved part of Trinity’s seasonal calendar, is usually accompanied by Christmas carol recitals performed by the College Singers. Hot drinks and mince pies are also served at the event.
The date was confirmed by the College catering manager, Moira O’Brien, in an email statement to The University Times.
The event traditionally takes place on the second last week of term, but due to the College’s new academic structure – introduced as part of the Trinity Education Project – this year’s ceremony will take place in the last teaching week of term.
The lighting of the Christmas tree in Front Square is a relatively new tradition, introduced in 2013 by Provost Patrick Prendergast, and regularly draws a large crowd of both students and staff.
Other Christmas traditions on campus include Christmas Commons, where alumni join fellows and scholars for dinner in the Dining Hall, and the Trinity Service of Carols, organised by the College chaplains, with singing from the College Choir.
In an interview with The University Times last year, Maria McGuinness, the Secretary of Trinity Singers, said that “the Christmas tree lighting ceremony gives us the opportunity to sing in front of a much larger audience and to hopefully convince a few more people to come to our concerts. It always gives me shivers down my spine when the crowd join in with the songs we are singing”.
The tree will remain lit throughout the Christmas period before being taken down at the beginning of January, a precursor to the resumption of classes.
The implementation of the Trinity Education Project meant the College year started two weeks earlier this year, to accommodate the introduction of Christmas exams. In future years, the academic year will end earlier so that students will have more time off during summer.
