Although it was warm enough outside for girls to be sporting tank tops and platform sandals, the inside of Houston Hall was transformed into a snowy festival on Friday, as hordes of students smeared icing on gingerbread men, made Christmas wreaths and ate potato latkes at the Winter Wonderland.
Friday's program was part of Winterfest, a three day series of holiday activities. Tangible Change, which sponsors alcohol free social programming on campus, and the Social Planning and Events Committee helped sponsor the event and the entire Winterfest weekend.
Houston Hall was filled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with different cultures and groups celebrating the holiday season. The event featured various religious, social and community groups offering food, education and entertainment.
"The event brings people together to celebrate the end of the semester and the season," said College senior Carrie Reilly, a member of Tangible Change. "It gives a nice change of pace, a break from reality."
Tangible Change ran the famous gingerbread table, a Winterfest tradition, where 2,000 cookies were available for students to decorate.
But the food didn't stop with gingerbread -- Hillel featured Hanukkah latkes, La Casa Latina offered traditional holiday cookies and the Pan-Asian American Community House displayed various Asian candies.
Students were also able to utilize their creative side to make arts and crafts. The SPEC Events table featured styrofoam balls and other supplies in order to make snowmen that wouldn't melt in the 65 degree weather. Outside Houston, SPEC workers helped students carve an ice sculpture.
At the Newman Center table, students spent time making advent wreaths.
"I'm Jewish, yet I'm making a Christmas wreath," College freshman Sylvia Indyk said. "This event is so important because Penn makes such a big deal about being diverse. It is one thing to have different people at this school, but we need to take the next step to let everyone know each other's differences."
Circle K, a community service group, provided supplies for students to make cards for children stuck in the hospital during the holidays. And MAKUU, which will soon be a resource center for black students, provided information on Kwanzaa and other African customs and traditions.
The afternoon was enhanced by entertainment from various singing and dancing groups. Among the performing groups was Onda Latina, whose members danced to Latin music.
"This event is for a great cause -- education," said Jerryanne Heath, a College sophomore and treasurer of Onda Latina. "We want to educate the Penn community about Latin culture through dance, and we can do that through events like this."
Students who attended the event said they wanted to catch the holiday cheer before the stress of the last few weeks of the semester sets in.
"I came to get into the holiday spirit before exams," said College sophomore Sonia Dalvi. "With all of the religions and cultures we have at Penn, we can't have a celebration of just one holiday. This event really shows our diversity."
