Most Houses have both menorahs and Christmas trees. Many have also instituted menorah-lighting study breaks as well as Christmas caroling.

Pforzheimer House’s gift exchange is called “Secret Snowflake” instead of “Secret Santa” in order to make it a secular holiday event, says Pforzheimer HoCo President Teresa L. Bechtold ’02.

“Santa is a term which is now used secularly, but is really a Christian symbol,” Bechtold says. “Because we have members of the House who are not Christian it is exclusive to use the term ‘Santa’ rather than ‘Snowflake.’”

Kirkland House, on the other hand, embraced the holiday spirit Sunday night as it kicked off its Secret Santa events by decorating the dining hall Christmas tree and putting up shiny stars of David on the walls. Students and tutors drank eggnog, ate red and green M&Ms and sang Christmas carols like “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

Kirkland resident Abigail A. Carlin ’04 says she is glad that the House has so many holiday festivities and decorations.

“It gives the dining hall more personality,” Carlin says. “It makes the House feel more like an actual home than some place you’re staying.”

—Staff writer Anne K. Kofol can be reached at kofol@fas.harvard.edu.