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The С����Ƶ community is invited to celebrate the season’s diverse holiday traditions during its annual Celebration of Lights on Thursday, December 8, at 4:30 p.m. in BLC Cavalla Room.

The event, hosted by Rider’s Center for Multicultural Affairs, will feature performances and stations highlighting the traditions of Boxing Day, Christmas, Diwali, Eid, Hanukkah, Japanese New Year, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day.

 “The purpose of Celebration of Lights is to create an atmosphere of celebration of different cultures and holidays,” said Emma Basilone ’10, a graduate assistant for Multicultural Affairs, who is helping to organize this year’s event. “There is nothing more special than visualizing unity and celebrating one of the greatest aspects of being an American — diversity.”

 Basilone said this year’s event introduces a new presentation of the Japanese New Year by the Japanese Pop Culture Society. Organizers have also enhanced the program with a variety of performances by student groups, including Unashamed Gospel Choir, the Rider Vibes and Tashan Bollywood Dance Team. Rebecca Lotito ’12, president of On Fire!!, will start the program, which will also be accompanied by pianist Ezike Anene ’11.

Students from various organizations will also participate, including the Center for Multicultural Affairs and Community Service, Latin American Student Organization, Protestant Campus Ministry, Catholic Campus Ministry, Hillel, Black Student Union, Asian Students at Rider, Rider’s Organization for Caribbean Affiliated Students and Japanese Pop Culture Society. The rest of the student organizers include Brandon Enalls ’15, Sarah Perez-Klausner ’13 and Ashley Reeves ’15.

The Celebration of Lights began in 1991 when a small group of Rider people gathered at the main gate to light a tree and celebrate the many different holiday traditions that were part of the life experience of the Rider community during this festive time of year.

“Celebration of Lights is about being together with your friends and peers, and learning about another culture. By understanding others, ultimately, the preconceived notions of that culture are demolished quickly,” said Reeves, a freshman student worker in Multicultural Affairs. “That way, when you see the holiday on the calendar, you can no longer say ‘What’s that?,’  but instead, ‘Hey, that’s a pretty cool holiday!’ Celebration of Lights is about bringing everyone �ٴDz���ٳ���.”