Home for the Holidays: Marist Christmas Tree Lighting Event Brings Music, Joy, and Giving Spirit

The Marist community and Poughkeepsie locals came together for the annual tree lighting tradition.

Students gathered for the annual Marist tradition of the Christmas Tree Lighting on Nov. 20 to usher in the Christmas season. Photo by Elizabeth Baumgardner '25

Hundreds of students and faculty gathered for the Marist College tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 20, to experience the warmth of the red and white Christmas lights on the approximately 50-foot tree.

The Marist tree is not only near and dear to the Poughkeepsie, New York area, but also boasts statistics that “outshine” one of the most prominent Christmas trees of all time. The Marist tree flaunts 77,000 red and white lights, while the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree only holds 50,000 lights on its 75-foot giant tree.

While the Marist tree has been illuminated since the 1980s, the actual tradition of a tree lighting ceremony with the exact lighting display on the tree started in 2002. The LED lights are effective in keeping maintenance of the display simple; if a bulb burns out, it can be easily replaced. Every fifth light on the strand is red to add to the spirit of Marist.

“This was my first tree lighting, and it did not disappoint,” said Isabel Cardona ‘28. “The lights are much brighter than I anticipated, and the feeling of community that this event is bringing forth is unmatched.” 

The preparation for this Christmas festivity begins in mid-October, when the weather is not as much of an issue in getting the tree ready. Seeing the work that goes into the tree in early autumn gears up the holiday excitement for students. The Physical Plant staff’s hard work pays off and was noted by the number of people gathered by the chapel.

The tree lighting ceremony would not have been possible without the dedication of the Department of Spiritual Life and Service, directed by Marist Brother Frank Kelly. The department works hard to spread the holiday spirit not only through their coordination of the tree lighting, but also through their Giving Tree Project.

The annual event seemed to be a smashing success, with students raving about the atmosphere of the lighting as a whole. 

“This is an event I always look forward to attending. I love watching the tree light up bright, surrounded by my friends and fellow Red Foxes,” said Nicole Larghi ‘26.

The tree continues to be a symbol of unity and holiday spirit for the Red Fox Family as anticipation for the season of giving continues to rise.