|Photo by Crystal Wood|

With the holiday season in sight, the Hanging of the Greens ceremony proclaims its arrival with a concert, community reception, candle lighting and a fireworks display to start it with a bang. In all these festivities, many people are behind the scenes working to make it a time of celebration. These workers experience the event from a different, but still festive, perspective.

“This is an event that we work on basically all year and it takes many offices on campus to pull it off,”

said Coordinator of Special Events, Teresa Janson.

Preparations begin with decorating campus buildings and planning. Odd jobs from candle bearers to spotlight technician go into the concert and opening ceremony alone.

“It’s cool to be able to help people in the community, and be the person that helps the 80-year-old man that needs help into his car; He gets a good impression of Spring Arbor and I really enjoy working with them,”

said Presidential Ambassador and Student Body Vice President senior Brian Meagher.

When the event arrives, crowds will adjourn to the plaza to watch the fireworks display, put on by the Spring Arbor Police Department and Fire Department.

“We’re pretty proud that we are the only ones that have ever had fireworks in Spring Arbor, especially in the winter. There may have been smaller things, but we are the only formal event to have them,”

said Janson.

After the fireworks, the community reception begins. The D.C. serves various Christmas treats and wassail, the Cougar Den and Fireside host hot apple cider and Mr. and Ms. Clause, while the Ralph Carey Forum provides a chance to decorate Christmas cookies and see balloon creations.

With all these events, the Kresge Student Center typically is filled with 800 people. Workers are busy, but the work environment proves to be in the holiday spirit.

“I always try to get them a little something to make it a little more fun, happy and spiritual. We hug a lot; we do that daily, and I think that’s the God in us to love,”

said Cougar Den Supervisor, Tina Treacher.

Many student workers have found that working this event is actually a much easier shift.

“Hanging of the Greens was almost fun. We got to wear ‘fancy’ outfits, and clean up cookies people dropped on the floor,” said sophomore Katie Shott. “It was different from a typical shift because I didn’t really have to do any hard work.”

Along with the on-site workers there are many people involved in the planning of the event. An entire committee is formed to organize the Hanging of the Greens, and nearly every department on campus is involved in the preparation as well.

The University of Communication is responsible for designing the promotional posters, while Campus Security helps regulate parking and crowds. Maintenance hangs up decorations and prepares the Dining Commons for the community reception. The Art department hosts a show with community refreshments, and the Business Office prepares and removes the luminaries.

“Because it takes so many different departments, it’s pulling it all together and the timing working out,”

said Janson.

When the event comes to a close and the planning and working is finally completed, a final meeting is held to discuss the outcome and begin talking about next year.

“Afterwards we always have a wrap-up meeting where we get together and have refreshments and talk about ways to improve next year and have snacks,”

said Janson.

With a never-ending cycle of planning and working, the event is certainly high in maintenance, but well appreciated by many.

“I really love this event, and I’m not just saying that because I work at it. It’s just a good time to choose, it means finals are coming up but after that, that’s it!” said Meagher.