Hanging of the Greens set to illuminate UNM campus Dec. 6

From "The First Noel" to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" to lots of luminarias, hot chocolate and posole, Hanging of the Greens, UNM's oldest student tradition, returns Friday, Dec. 6.

Sponsored by the Mortar Board and the Associated Students at The University of New Mexico, students, staff, faculty, and the Albuquerque community are invited to one of the largest luminaria displays to help kick off the holiday season.

Dating back to the 1930s, the Hanging of the Greens is a tradition featuring approximately 13,000 luminarias lining each building, residence hall, and walkway on the UNM campus, offering a magical experience in a New Mexico way. The luminarias are filled and set up by different student organizations from UNM, including the Mortar Board, UNM's premier senior student honor society.

Assembly begins at 5:30 p.m. in front of the UNM Bookstore. From there, Mortar Board students, who dress up as elves and Santa Claus, will lead attendees and sing Christmas carols while strolling north across campus. They'll stop at University House to deliver a wreath at the President's house. Students gather greens for the wreath from the pine forest in the Sandia Mountains, which is made into a wreath that will hang at University House throughout December.

After "Hanging the Greens" at University House, the Christmas carol serenading continues to Hodgin Hall, where one last carol is sung. A reception at Hodgin Hall follows, where attendees will be met with free posole and hot chocolate, and nothing says Christmas in New Mexico like biscochitos. The next morning, in the spirit of giving, anyone can take the luminarias from campus to decorate their homes.

Attendees are also encouraged to bring an unwrapped children's book to place under the tree at Hodgin Hall to donate to the UNM's Children's Hospital.

This festive tradition is one of the "Most Wonderful Time(s) of the Year" for the campus community to come together and show the giving spirit of the Lobo pack during the holiday season.

For more on the history of this event, visit Hanging of the Greens.