It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times: the time of year when students and faculty prepare for final exams and the end of the semester, while all around them holiday spirit and Christmas cheer blanket campus like a comforting winter snow. The good news? SJU’s holiday events are plentiful – enough to help students, staff and faculty alike take a break and celebrate the season.

This year’s holiday made a musical start on Tues., Nov. 30 with the all-women’s a cappella group the City Belle’s third annual winter concert, followed by the University Singers and Concert Choir’s “Hallelujah! Festival of Carols” winter concert on Thursday, Dec. 2. If you’re musically inclined but missed the first two, 54th and City, the all-male a cappella group, will perform their winter concert in the Perch at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

Continuing the holiday cheer, the University’s annual tree lighting ceremony, hosted by the Administrative Staff Council (ASC) will be held Monday, Dec. 6 at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Chapel of St. Joseph – Michael J. Smith, S.J. Memorial. Following the ceremony seasonal refreshments will be served in Wolfington Hall.

The ASC has placed three Giving Trees throughout campus decorated with ornaments that contain wish lists from local families. To donate a gift to a family in need, select an ornament and return it with its corresponding unwrapped gift by Wednesday, Dec. 15. The Giving Trees are in the foyer of the Chapel of St. Joseph – Michael J. Smith, S.J. Memorial, outside of the Mandeville Hall library and in the lobby of the Maguire campus Athletic Facility.

On Wednesday, Dec. 8, campus will take a wintry turn with the presence of professional ice carvers in the Campion Courtyard from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Later in the evening the SJU community can enjoy a holiday dinner in the Dining Hall in the Campion Student Center while listening to the visiting Eagles Pep Band. Throughout the day, all are welcome to take part in the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at the Chapel of St. Joseph – Michael J. Smith, S.J. Memorial, with masses at 12:05 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

Students preparing for final exams can find temporary solace Dec. 8 – 12 with the Winter Weekend programming jointly planned by several departments on campus, with holiday-themed study breaks scheduled in residence halls and at the Perch, free food and movie screenings and a trip to Peddler’s Village on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 5 p.m. The Snow Ball will take place at the Academy of Natural Sciences on Friday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through sjutickets.com.

For those looking for the traditional ceremonies of the season, several services are scheduled in the Chapel of St. Joseph – Michael J. Smith, S.J. Memorial. Holiday Evensong will take place on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. and the Season Celebration Mass – the last Mass of the semester for students – will be Sunday, Dec. 12 at 9 p.m. The choir will start singing at 8:30 p.m. and a reception will follow. On Christmas Eve all are welcome to attend an 8 p.m. Mass, but there will be no services held on Christmas Day.

The final event of the 2010 holiday season will take place Sunday, Dec. 19, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Christmas Celebration held in the Chapel of St. Joseph – Michael J. Smith, S.J. Memorial, will serve as a celebration of the season and as a farewell Mass for Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. A continental breakfast and reception will follow in the Banquet Hall in Campion Student Center.