It’s officially holiday season at Eliot House. And if anyone has any doubts about that, all he needs to do is take a peek at the 14-foot Christmas tree that towers over House residents in the dining hall.

Two dozen Eliot residents spruced up the fir on Thursday night with sparkling streamers and a wide variety of ornaments.

Many more students joined in the merriment, celebrating the opening of the holiday season with food and song, if not with tree-trimming.

Everyone who took time off from studying to enjoy the festivities was treated to a spread of gingerbread men with sprinkles and frosting as well as eggnog, wine, and hot apple cider.

“What’s not to like here? We have music and food,” House Master Gail A. O’Keefe said. “It’s a wonderful event. The spirit makes it special.”

The obvious star of the night was the radiant evergreen. In addition to the store-bought ornaments hanging from every limb, students made handmade decorations during the evening to hang on the tree. In a craft project that perhaps summoned memories of kindergarten Christmastimes, students created diamond-shaped ornaments with two popsicle sticks and an array of yarns.

A student took to the piano to pound out classic Christmas tunes to underscore the festive activities.

Jayshlyn D. Acevedo ’14 was one of several House residents who seized the merry occasion as an opportunity to break out their favorite Christmas sweaters. She sported a blue jacket with a large reindeer stitched on in addition to a set of jingle bells.

Daniel C. Norris ’12 said the residents’ efforts demonstrated their House pride.

“We’ve got obviously the best community on campus,” Norris said. “It’s Thursday night. There are a lot of things people could be doing, but they’re down here because their friends are here—just having a good time making the House look pretty and enjoying cookies and stuff.”

House Master Douglas A. Melton said the Christmas tree would lighten the mood in Eliot during reading and finals period, those trying weeks that students must pass through before the holidays really arrive.

“We are lucky to have a big tree, because students use this dining hall during reading period for studying and it gives the dining hall a softer atmosphere rather than an intense studying spirit,” Melton said. “It smells good too.”