NORFOLK, Neb. -- Now that the last of the turkey has been eaten from Thanksgiving, it’s time to focus on the next holidays coming over the next few weeks.
Northeast Community College recently conducted a holiday tree lighting ceremony, with mentions of various holiday observances planned for a variety of cultures in the coming weeks.
Battling a bit of construction noise in the background as workers continued work on the new Maclay Building, the lighting of the holiday tree at Hawks Paradise Landing has become a yearly tradition.
“I think it is an important time in our year to recognize this is a time of celebration for many faiths and denominations in celebration of the end of the year,” said Northeast President Leah Barrett. “We do celebrate a little bit of the holiday Christmas, but it is also important to recognize that Hanukah is coming up now.
Also, some of our friends from India and some of the Eastern Asia countries are celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights. And Kwanzaa is celebrated at the time after Christmas. And so, it is important to recognize that all of us have our beliefs. They may differ at times, but it is a time for fellowship and remembering.”
One of the highlights was a Northeast choir performance, followed by a multicultural winter display viewing and refreshments inside nearby Union 73.
Margaret Schutlz, Northeast music instructor, directed the Northeast Singers Express, who performed a mixture of holiday and spiritual songs.
One of the songs that the students performed had students singing “Peace” in Portuguese, Swahili, Pakistani, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Italian and English at the same time in harmony.
Holiday Tree Lighting cutline
Margaret Schultz, Northeast music instructor, directed the Northeast Singers Express during the recent annual holiday tree lighting ceremony. (Northeast Community College)