When Does the Christmas Break Start?
Christmas falls during winter break in the U.S., so many students choose to go back to their hometowns to spend time with their families or travel for vacation. However, on college campuses, the holiday season begins long before December 24. As early as November, most university campuses are decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and festive displays, which mark the unofficial start of the celebrations.
What Do University Students Usually Do During Christmas?
Starting early December, students immerse themselves in various holiday activities. They attend university-hosted events, participate in community service projects, prepare for final exams, or enjoy gatherings organized by dorms and student clubs. Many campuses transform into lively winter wonderlands with themed performances, concerts, and seasonal traditions, often marked by snow-covered quads, twinkling string lights wrapped around trees, and historic buildings dusted in white.
These celebrations create a warm and joyful atmosphere for students who stay on campus instead of travelling home. The holiday traditions provide a sense of comfort, belonging, and community.
When Do Students Go Back to School After Their Christmas Break?
Christmas break, or what students commonly refer to as the winter break, typically lasts for 2 to 4 weeks, depending on each university’s academic calendar. Most campuses have their breaks in mid-December, which gives students more time to unwind after their final exams before resuming classes in early to mid-January. Don’t forget to review your university’s official academic calendar so that you can plan for your winter break and your return to campus in advance.
1. Brown University: Latin Carol Celebration
As students wrap up the semester, Christmas at Brown University offers a festive, cozy atmosphere on campus. Lights, winter decorations, and student-organized gatherings, such as holiday concerts, dorm celebrations, and campus chapel services, create a warm sense of community before everyone heads home for the break.
The university’s most iconic tradition is the Latin Carol Celebration, which has been held every December since 1948. This one-night event brings crowds together for readings and carol sing-alongs performed in Latin, ancient Greek, and Sanskrit. What started as simple Latin carols has grown into a lively cultural celebration featuring classical poetry and multilingual performances, making it one of Brown’s most unique and cherished holiday traditions.
2. The University of Notre Dame: A Carroll Christmas
Few campuses embrace the holiday spirit as wholeheartedly as the University of Notre Dame. Their Christmas transformation begins immediately after Thanksgiving, when the campus is adorned with lights and festive decorations.
One of its most beloved traditions, A Carroll Christmas, dates back to 1989. Each first Friday of December, students can enjoy carriage rides, the lighting of a towering Christmas tree, and visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Residence halls also compete in tree-decorating contests, host Christmas pageants, and gather for candlelit Advent Masses. Notre Dame students are equally committed to community service, partnering with local organizations to provide holiday meals and gifts for other families.
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3. Seton Hall University: Christmas at the Hall
Seton Hall stands out as one of the most festive college campuses in the United States. The holiday festivities begin right after Thanksgiving with a special Mass and the campus Tree Lighting Ceremony.
In the weeks that follow, the university hosts musical performances, caroling, Christmas parties, and a pancake breakfast with Santa.
Students are also encouraged to participate in charitable initiatives such as toy drives, letter-writing campaigns for children in hospitals, and handmade jewelry projects for local nonprofits. To make the season even more memorable, Seton Hall releases holiday coloring pages and an official Christmas playlist for students to enjoy throughout December.
4. Baylor University: Christmas on 5th Street
Baylor University infuses its campus with both tradition and creativity during the Christmas season. Faculty, staff, and students collaborate on an annual Advent devotional, while the School of Music fills the campus with multiple Christmas concerts.
The highlight is “Christmas on 5th Street,” a large-scale celebration that turns the Baylor campus into a festive village. Visitors can enjoy carriage rides, food vendors, live nativity scenes, historic holiday displays, and activities for children. The event is popular not only among students but also among families from the surrounding community, making it an essential part of Baylor’s cultural identity.
5. Texas Tech University: Carol of Lights
Texas Tech’s Carol of Lights Celebration is one of the most iconic holiday events in Texas. Since 1959, the ceremony has grown into a major community gathering, with more than 20,000 attendees each year.
The display includes a 38-foot Christmas tree, a massive wreath, thousands of luminaries, and over 25,000 lights illuminating the campus buildings. In 2022, the Carol of Lights launched Texas Tech’s Centennial Celebration with music and fireworks. The university continues to evolve the event, incorporating new elements, such as drone shows, to create an even more memorable experience.
6. William & Mary: The Yule Log Ceremony
As one of America’s oldest colleges, William & Mary maintains a cherished tradition known as the Yule Log Ceremony. Students gather in the historic Wren Courtyard for music, storytelling, and a moment of reflection before moving into the Great Hall to toss sprigs of holly into a burning yule log.
This symbolic act represents leaving behind the year’s worries and welcoming good fortune for the year ahead. Notably, alumni across the country host regional Yule Log gatherings, creating a shared ritual that binds generations of William & Mary students together.
7. University of Nevada, Las Vegas: Faculty Staff Holiday Card
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) celebrates Christmas with a tradition that combines creativity and community support. Since 1967, faculty and staff have submitted designs for a university-wide holiday card.
Alongside the card submissions, the Holiday Card Scholarship campaign invites contributions that support student scholarships. Over the decades, this initiative has raised more than $160,000. Each year’s card design is displayed on the campus Christmas tree, showcasing the creativity of the UNLV community.
8. Roberts Wesleyan College: Christmas Gala
Roberts Wesleyan College ushers in the season with an elegant Christmas Gala. Student musicians from various ensembles, brass, strings, jazz, and vocal groups perform in a large holiday concert attended by parents, alumni, and community members.
Visitors begin the evening by walking through the Davison Art Gallery, followed by a festive reception. The event supports scholarships for music students, combining holiday spirit with meaningful philanthropy.
9. Purdue University: Christmas Show
For more than 90 years, Purdue University has hosted its famous Christmas Show, a large-scale musical production that brings students from a wide range of majors together.
This annual performance is known for its elaborate sets, uplifting music, and inclusive atmosphere. Families from around the region travel to campus each year to attend the show, making it one of Purdue’s longest-standing holiday traditions.
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10. Boston College: Santa Claus on Campus
Boston College (BC) celebrates Christmas with beloved campus traditions that gather students, families, and alumni together. The season begins with the annual Christmas tree lighting at the O’Neill Library Plaza, where Santa arrives with a BC Police escort, and student groups perform festive carols. Booths from student organizations, holiday games, giveaways, and treats from BC Dining create a warm and joyful atmosphere that marks the beginning of the campus holiday season.
Throughout December, the university hosts a variety of musical performances, Advent and Christmas services, and community-centered events. Highlights include the University Chorale and Symphony Orchestra Christmas concerts, celebrations at the McMullen Museum, the family-friendly Boston College Bands Festival, and the Alumni Association’s Winter Wonderland with Santa, crafts, and carriage rides. These traditions make the BC campus a lively and welcoming place throughout the holidays.
Christmas at universities is more than just a seasonal celebration; it reflects the values of community, tradition, and generosity that shape a student’s life. These campus traditions give students a chance to relax, connect with their peers, and participate in meaningful events before they head home for winter break.
Preparing Your University Application with Aralia
If you are preparing your university application and want to be part of meaningful Christmas traditions, Aralia can help you achieve your goals.
Whether you’re planning to apply for popular or unique majors, having a polished and impressive college application is essential. Beyond a high GPA or impressive extracurricular activities, participating in international competitions, conducting scientific research in high school, achieving excellent AP/IB scores, or writing a remarkable personal statement will be the key to standing out to admissions committees at these universities.
Aralia offers a range of courses in international competition preparation, scientific research, and personal statement writing, taught by top instructors from universities and high schools. Thousands of Aralia students have won prestigious international awards and received scholarships from top universities worldwide through their impressive essays and college applications.
