Drinking hot chocolate, hearing joyous music and seeing Santa and Mrs. Claus on campus brings community members together.

But what really catches people's attention each year are the lights and luminaries that span from Alamance to Moseley Center.

"Looking at the lights themselves is the best part of the celebration," said President Leo Lambert. "That night, Elon's campus looks absolutely beautiful and everyone should stand and appreciate its beauty."

The Festival of Holiday Lights, started in 1984 by former chaplain Richard McBride, is a time when people come together to begin celebrating the holiday season.

This year, the festival began Dec. 1 at the Scott Plaza in front of Alamance.

More than 1,500 luminaires covered the brick pathways and the numerous lights for the trees. The event also provided hot chocolate, apple cider and music from Dickens-style carolers. And who could forget Santa and Mrs. Claus?

"It's a really awesome tradition," said sophomore Rebekah Hackney. "It's kind of like College Coffee, except the Christmas version, and instead of coffee, it's hot chocolate."

But the event doesn't just celebrate Christmas. The event now includes other religious traditions, such as Hanukkah for the Jewish community of Elon.

"Twenty years ago, it was very much more associated to religious aspects of Christmas," said Phil Smith, director of religious life. "Whereas now, it's about coming together and celebrating the season and the winter holidays in general."

University Chaplain Janet Fuller said including other holidays is important for bringing others together, which McBride did when he first added Hanukkah traditions to the ceremony in 1985.

"We think of Christmas as everyone's holiday, but it's not," she said. "That's the sticky part of it."

The Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life sponsors and organizes the event, from setting up the lights in the trees to providing hot beverages. It had numerous volunteers helping out.

"There are a huge number of volunteers and it takes more every year with the great number of luminaries," Fuller said. "I think thatit's a great and long labor of love."

The festive music and holiday spirit are present, but the lights remain memorable part of the event. The beauty making people stop and stare is a good thing, according to Fuller.

"I do think that beauty is good for the soul," she said. "It feeds the soul. It feeds that other non-technical part of us and stimulates that other part of our brain that keeps us whole."

Smith said the lights are his favorite part because of the reactions. He said it gives him such a good feeling to see people enjoy the beauty that he doesn't mind the hard work.

"It's a whole lot of work for a whole lot of people and the actual event is very brief," Smith said. "But it just seems to mean a lot to the community."

How will the event look in 10 to 15 years? Although Fuller is new to Elon, she is certain that even though some things may change, the spirit of the event will stay the same.

"Change is inevitable," Fuller said. "We'd like to make this both a meaningful Christian holiday and at the same time, make it more meaningful to others who aren't Christians."

Even Lambert hopes the festival will remain the same.

"It will always adapt within time," he said. "But I hope the major tradition will continue"