By: Ciara Speller;
Mosaic Broadcast Editor,
On November 28, 2012 at 7p.m. in Ochre Court, songs, dances and prayers for peace were delivered during Salve Regina’s annual Festival of Lights.
The Ochre Court Ballroom was finely decorated with Christmas trees and lights as well as ornaments and candles alike. To help everyone enjoy the start of the Christmas season, there was also a live pianist, who most definitely helped to raise everyone’s spirits.
Students, faculty, alumni and the public were all present and took part in this joyous celebration filled with cheer, reflection and spiritual meditation.
The ceremony began with
Media credit: Brittany Lauro
a dance performance from extensions dancers; Cayley Christoforou 15, Allyson Hamel 15, Amanda Morton 15, Courtney Randall 13, Elysa Schuhmaher 16 and Kayla Tolman 15 to “We Are The World”.
“I liked dancing in the festival because it was for a good cause and brought people together during the holiday season,” said Christoforou.
Christoforou was not the only one who appeared to feel this sense of togetherness, as strangers who had never met until this occasion interacted and rejoiced together.
Preceding the dance performance was the Procession of Flags and the placement of the Peace Pole, which was done by students of Salve Regina.
The opening prayer: We Pray for Children, by Ina Hughes was a very touching and heartwarming prayer to open with, as it reflected on children all over the world who are in need of our prayers. It also spoke about how our experiences are what allow us to be who we are today.
“We pray for children who like to be tickled. Who were born in places where we would never be caught dead. We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses. Who have watched their parents die. Who go to bed hungry. We pray for children who will grab the hand of anyone kind enough to offer it,” are the words echoed by Hughes.
Everyone at this festival engaged in this prayer; some with smiles of gratitude on their faces, and some nearly in tears, but this prayer brought us all together as a community which is what the holidays are all about.
All were privileged enough to see the lighting of the Diwali Diyas, Chanukiah, Advent Wreath, and Fanoos.
The Diwali Diya is a small earthen lamp that is lit especially at the Indian Festival of Lights. Tradition says that when the Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, the people were overjoyed to see him. Since it was a moonless night, people lit up candles and diyas along the Rama’s path.
A Chanukiah is a candelabrum with eight candleholders in a row and a ninth candleholder set a little above the others. It is used during the Jewish holiday of Chanukah and commemorates the miracle of the oil. According to the story of Chanukah, the Syrians needed eight days of oil in order to complete the ritual purification, but they were only able to find one day’s worth. They lit the Chanukiah anyway and miraculously lasted eight full days.
The Advent Wreath, the Christian symbol that marks the passage of the four weeks before Christmas and is the celebration of the birth of Christ. In the wreath are three purple candles and one pink, each representing a Sunday during Advent.
Last is the Fanoos Ramadan, which is an Egyptian tradition that has spread to other Islamic countries. The Fanoos is part of the tradition of the holy month of Ramadan, where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset in a process intended to light one’s path toward prayer and God.
Various other prayers and readings from children and adults across the world were also shared, as well as a dedication to Malala Yousafzai; the fifteen year old Pakistani girl who was shot on a school bus for wanting an education.
Also closing out the ceremony was a solo performance choreographed and danced by Alysia Sjoberg 16 to “People Help the People”.
“I thought it was one of the most inspiring and humbling performances that I have ever done,” added Sjoberg.
This beautiful festival allowed celebration of all cultures and religions uniting us as one.
“Every aspect of it was my favorite! It was heartwarming and brings light to pray for peace. I would come again,” mentioned Shirley Cronin, an audience member.
Cronin as well as many others indicated that they were all excited about the opportunity to attend this festival again next year.
