It’s the most wonderful time of the year! With students eager to depart for a well-deserved break, the Blair community convened to celebrate the spirit of the season Friday night for the annual Christmas Vespers and Winter Gathering. As the end-of-semester final assessments passed and students exchanged gifts with friends, students, faculty, staff, parents and local alumni joined together in merriment. 

“Christmas Vespers is a marvelous gathering that exudes the Christmas spirit,” Rev. Harvey, Blair’s chaplain, reflects. The traditional candle-lit service, which takes place at the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Blairstown, includes readings from a variety of historical texts and a selection of musical pieces performed by the Blair Academy String Orchestra and Singers. “I am thrilled to overhear students and faculty upon their departure from the sanctuary remark on the astonishment and enjoyment Christmas Vespers gave them. I’ve actually heard this comment made more so than they might have thought, and it is one of the many things I love about this tradition.” 

A younger tradition that has grown in popularity since its inception is Winter Gathering, a celebration and reflection on the winter season in the Chiang-Elghanayan Center for Innovation and Collaboration. Dean of Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Evan Thomas describes this year’s event as a program created by and for the community, with increasing representation of the diversity at Blair. The program included poetry in multiple languages and performances from not just students but also faculty and some staff members.

“I love gathering as a community to celebrate the season and our time together,” Mr. Thomas shared before the evening’s festivities. “We are bringing lived experiences to this event, and I’m excited to see how it comes together.”

There’s no wonder it’s the hap-happiest season of all!