Feel that chill in the air? See the sparkle in your co-workers’ eyes? It must be that time of year again - time to celebrate the University’s longest standing tradition - "Hanging of the Greens." On Friday, Nov. 30, enjoy thousands of glowing luminarias lighting beautiful paths throughout campus, thanks to hundreds of students and the coordination of the UNM Mortar Board Senior Honor Society. The event starts outside of Popejoy Hall at 5:45 p.m.
Or if a roaring fire is more to your liking, join the entire campus community for an open house at University House with hot chocolate, a steaming cup of posole and Lorraine’s famous biscochitos starting at 6 p.m.
Student organizations will spend the day decorating main campus with thousands of luminarias. Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to meet at Popejoy Hall to begin a caroling tour that will conclude with a reception at University House and the traditional presentation of the wreath to President and Mrs. David Schmidly.
Interim Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Viola Florez will accept this year's wreath for President Schmidly, who will be in Guadalajara giving a keynote address.
Attendees are asked to bring an unwrapped children's book to place under the University House tree. Books will be donated to UNM Children's Hospital.
Hanging of the Greens has been a tradition since the 1930's started by Lena C. Clauve, a former UNM student and UNM Dean of Women. The tradition started with students driving to the Sandia mountains, where they would gather greenery which they would use to decorate the Student Union Building.
Mortar Board began sponsoring Hanging of the Greens in the 1950s and added the luminarias as decoration. The buildings of the main campus at the University of New Mexico are outlined with luminaria for the event. The Mortar Board organizes the event each year as a part of its mission to promote service and community outreach.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at November 26, 2007 01:11 PM