Ivy-League Holiday Traditions
college and career
By Daniel Ein Alshaeba, 2025
Published 12/30/2023
The Ivy-League schools are undoubtedly rich in traditions, ranging from the annual Yale v. Harvard football game to the Cornell Dragon Day Parade. This, of course, also includes a variety of holiday traditions as well.
Yale, our local Ivy, has a tradition known as the Freshman Holiday Dinner at the end of the fall semester. At this event, freshmen gather in the commons for a holiday celebration and dinner, lots of dinner. The dining staff presents a plethora of dishes, such as chocolate-covered strawberries, ham, and prime rib, in addition to exorbitant amounts of eggnog.
Columbia is also no stranger to holiday traditions either. Each year, the university celebrates its tree lighting ceremony, in which the trees of College Walk, the main walkway of its campus, are adorned with lights while students enjoy holiday music and treats. On top of that, the university’s acapella groups perform carols around New York City.
Harvard’s festivities usually take place right before students leave for winter break. Like Columbia, music is a key part of the university’s holiday celebrations, with numerous orchestra and choir performances filling the campus with melodies. Many hands-on festivities take place as well, with students being able to decorate cookies and even make snow globes. Cabot House, one of the university’s dorms, also hosts an annual holiday feast featuring take-out from countless local restaurants.
Dartmouth also hosts its own traditional holiday events. Each year, a towering Christmas tree is placed in the middle of its campus green, and the community gathers to watch as the tree is showered in yellow lights, with a star shining triumphantly at its top. Then, the Handel Society, Dartmouth’s renowned choral group, sings carols as visitors help themselves to cookies and hot chocolate.
Finally, Princeton hosts its annual WinterFest, which is organized by the Princeton Student Events Committee. During this, students can make holiday arts and crafts, devour treats, take photos with festive backdrops, and play holiday games. Sound familiar, Cheshire?