 "Photo: Trent Barnes")
The cold, wet Friday evening did not stop approximately 23,000 people from attending Texas Tech's 49th-annual Carol of Lights: Lighting the Way.
Students, faculty, staff members, alumni and Lubbockites huddled together for warmth as they waited in the parking lot of the Science Quadrangle and Memorial Circle for the festivities to begin.
"The Carol of Lights really puts us on the map," said Christina Phan, a senior public relations major from Chino Hills, Calif. "We're known nationally for our ceremony. I get e-mails all the time from people in New York or Cornell University asking for advice to start their own." The tradition started in 1959 with just 5,000 lights, and it increased to 16,000 lights in the first official Carol of Lights ceremony in 1961. Friday, five times more than the original number of lights lit up the campus.
"It's one of the oldest traditions at Texas Tech," said Phan, president of Residence Halls Association. "It's amazing because at the flick of a switch, 25,000 light bulbs are lit."
The Carol of Lights ceremony began with a torchlight processional by the Saddle Tramps, parading of the Masked Rider and Raider Red and a speech from Phan.
Phan said for the first time in Carol of Lights history, the ceremony hosted its first female soloist, Kathryn Barnes-Buroughs, who sang, "O, Holy Night."
The audience also listened to Tech's combined choirs sing Christmas carols, keeping alive the tradition of caroling that started with a group of students singing through the residence halls in 1959.
Lindsay Swartwood, a freshman music education major from Denton who is a member of University Choir, said she was excited to participate in this tradition.
"I didn't expect so many people to be there," she said. "I was honored to be in an organization that is supportive of such a great tradition. It put me in the mood of the season."
Silent Raiders also participated in the event, with two students signing the songs and two signing the speeches.
After the carols and speeches, the moment came. In a matter of seconds, the front of campus was illuminated, and cheers issued from the crowd.
Katie Kellagher, a sophomore communication disorders major from Dallas, said her favorite part of Carol of Lights was after the lights turned on, when everyone got excited at the same time and began taking pictures.
"Everyone goes to the Christmas tree to take pictures and admire its Christmas cheer," she said.
Zach Ormsby, a senior mechanical engineering major from Borger, described the lighting as something greater than just being simply majestic.
"It's about a sense of wonder and awe," he said. "It's an excitement that you can only feel at Tech - I don't know anyone else who does this. This is my fourth year going, and it gets better every year. It's the highlight of my Christmas season."
Students are not the only people who enjoy the tradition.
Kitty Harris-Wilkes, assistant dean of the College of Human Sciences, said she goes to the event every year because it is something she loves attending.
"I think it is very important to Lubbock because I think it signifies the Christmas season for everyone," she said.
Her husband, Morris Wilkes, said he has been going since he was a child.
"It's not just about the ceremony," he said. "The lights are on all the time."
Kim Petrie, a mother of four children, stood outside with her husband and kids in the cold, waiting for the carols to start.
"My husband and I both went to Tech, and we just moved back to Lubbock," she said. "We wanted our kids to see the tradition. It's a great way to start the holidays."
Friday started out rainy and cloudy, but some loyal Techsans said bad weather would not stop them from enjoying the festivities.
"I go every year because it's tradition," said Amanda Bratcher, a senior early childhood education major from Lubbock. "I never doubted that I was going to go, rain or shine. Carol of Lights is about coming together."
Planning for Carol of Lights started as far back as August, and the lights went up in September.
Phan said the theme, "Lighting the Way," came to her spontaneously one day.
"I'm really into leadership, so it started as 'Leading the Way,'" she said. "As the committee and I went through past themes, we realized that none really dealt with light. Naturally, 'Lighting the Way' just seemed perfect."
The theme can be interpreted in a number of ways, meaning either lighting the way to next year's grand 50th celebration or merely lighting the way to a new year, Phan said.
In her speech at the ceremony, Phan said, "Here at Tech, we have honor, spirit, compassion and, most of all, we have strong and wonderful traditions that help keep us a united and dominant force."
She said she feels that Tech is so successful in hosting this ceremony because it is about the family tie and connection that Lubbock and Tech have.
"It's a tradition that is beyond everything we do," she said. "You won't remember your classes or the grades you get, but you'll always remember Carol of Lights. Maybe you won't remember the songs, or the speeches, but always how you felt. It's really something else."
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