With the first snow of the year blanketing the campus, Penn students rang in some holiday cheer at the sixth-annual Winterfest in Houston Hall on Friday.
Winterfest, a multicultural holiday celebration co-sponsored by the Social Planning and Events Committee and Tangible Change, featured holiday music, food and culture from around the world.
Students at one end of Houston Hall watched acts throughout the day from performing arts groups Pennchants, Full Measure, Quaker Notes and Penn Dance, while enjoying warm apple cider, hot chocolate, doughnuts and home-made gingerbread cookies.
Students at the other end of the hall engaged in various arts and crafts activities, from building styrofoam snowmen to decorating holiday cards for patients at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with campus community service group Circle K.
Cultural and religious groups, including La Casa Latina, Hillel, Makuu and the Newman Center, sponsored tables to promote awareness of a variety of holiday celebrations as well.
College freshman Megan Middleton, a Makuu volunteer, explained her organization's mission.
"We are providing information to make people aware of Kwanzaa and other black American traditions," she said. "People have been interested in learning more about our holiday."
At another table, La Casa Latina was providing Penn community members with a wide variety of Latin foods, including traditional cookies, breads and Horchata, a type of punch.
Graduate School of Education student Elizabeth Morris said the variety of food and culture appealed to her sense of diversity.
"People want to try different stuff and learn about different countries' celebrations," she said.
In addition to holiday food and beverages, campus groups Drug Alcohol and Resource Team and Facilitating Learning About Sexual Health were on hand passing out advice about safe drinking and sex during the holidays.
By the end of the day, about 1,000 students had passed through Houston Hall to enjoy a brief respite before finals.
"It's a great way for everybody to have a good time," College junior Jason Levy and organizer of Tangible Change said. "It's a time to unwind before finals begin."
College senior Pia Bonura, Special Events coordinator for SPEC echoed his sentiment.
"It's a great time to celebrate everybody's holiday together."
