The warm glow of the holiday season is beautifully captured in Morningside’s cherished tradition known as the Hanging of the Greens, a celebration that dates back to 1949. This beloved event traces its roots to 1925, when Agnes Doolittle, a spirited teacher at Spirit Lake High School, hosted a Christmas gathering in her home each year. Surrounded by the gentle crackling of a Yule log sent from her family in England, junior and senior girls would join her around the stone fireplace for an evening of fellowship and fun during the holiday season. This Yule log, a symbol of familial unity despite the miles, had a piece of it saved each year to mingle with a new log the following Christmas, and guest were also invited to take a piece of the log to carry the spirit of the gathering forward.

Almost a quarter-century later, a bit of Ms. Doolittle’s tradition found its way to Morningside. In 1949, seven freshman women from Spirit Lake brought a piece of the Yule log to Dimmitt Hall, kindling it with a new one and inaugurating what would become a celebrated ceremony. The next year saw the event grow, with wreath-hanging and tree-decorating joining the Yule log ritual, marking the official start of the Hanging of the Greens in Morningside University’s Dimmitt Hall.

Through the years, the tradition evolved. Women from other halls eventually began participating, and in 1984, men were welcomed into the ceremony. The transition to a gas fireplace in the 2000s brought modernity, yet the heart of the ceremony remains unchanged. Each year begins by recounting the origins of this festival as members of the Morningside community gather around the warmth of the fire to welcome the holidays.

After taking time to reflect on the history of the event, members from each of the classes take turns hanging wreath symbolizing the spirit of the season: seniors express gratitude for joy, juniors symbolize hope for eternal life, sophomores wish for world peace, and freshmen signify God’s love and our love for one another. The final act involves trimming the Christmas tree, adorned with ornaments crafted by the residence halls and treasures from years past, followed by the joy of holiday treats and fellowship. This harmonious blend of old and new, heritage and unity, defines the enduring spirit of the Hanging of the Greens.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the event, a time-honored tradition of Morningside. Please join us at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18, at Dimmitt Hall Formal to kick off the holiday season.