The Southern Editor
Learn about he long held traditions, services and events that define Florida Southern’s holiday season. Along with, the story of the beloved snowman, Dean Holiday who once graced campus rooftops and his potential return.
Candlelight Service
The Lessons & Carols Christmas Candlelight Service, hosted by the campus religious center, often features the FSC student choir leading the congregation in beloved Christmas hymns. This intimate gathering invites quiet reflection and offers a thoughtful pause during the Christmas season. Throughout the service, scripture passages, including the story of Christ’s birth are read aloud by faculty and students of the religion department. This event has been longheld tradition inviting students, alumni and the broader Lakeland community to gather and celebrate the Christmas season.
The evening concludes with the lighting of individual candles as the entire room stands together to sing “Silent Night.” Marked by its calm and contemplative atmosphere, the service provides a peaceful retreat from the usual holiday bustle and a meaningful moment of reflection for those who celebrate.
Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland is a campus event hosted by the Association for Campus Entertainment (ACE). This year, the event is entitled “World of Winter.” Right before exam week and Christmas break, Mr. George’s Green becomes a field of snow and wintry fun. Consisting of games such as stuffed animals, fake snow, blow up holiday themed arcade games, mini golf, inflatable snow globes, there has even been slow sledding. Free and though the exact happening of the event is a surprise each year students can always expect it to be a highlight of the year.
Christmas Gala
Every year the FSC’s Music Department hosts the Christmas gala featuring an array of musical arrangements of classic holiday favorites. Ranging from jazz, concert band, orchestra, soloists and choral groups the event combines both traditional melodies and reinvented renditions of beloved classics. Students from across campus have the opportunity to audition to be a part of the event. From soloists. Trios and large concert bands, each displaying their own style of musical talent. This year’s Christmas Gala is entitled “Winter Wonderland” and will be located in Branscomb Auditorium on Dec 13 at 2p.m. and 7p.m.
Dean Holiday
The snowman’s 53 year run began in 1964, he then appeared across campus rooftops and joined in the annual Lakeland Holiday Parade, making him a well known character in the FSC and Lakeland community.
Moving Dean Holiday proved to be a challenge particulalry when moving him to the top of the planetarioum. This challenge was met with various techniques over the years including the use of Lakeland Fire Department’s ladder-truck, and even by using a helicopter. Proceding the planetariums remodle. Dean Holiday was moved to the the Wellness Center as well as the Buckner Building.
However, Dean’s legacy came to a close in 2017, when he was either damaged in a storm or, as stated by Dr.Kerr in a 2021 interview for The Southern newspaper “Dean Holiday had an accident coming off the Branscomb Auditorium roof.” Either way, it seemed that the snowman was gone for good. In that same interview Dr. Kerr expressed that the snowman was sevely damaged and would likely never be restored or replaced.
Since then many community members and FSC alumni have expressed how Christmas is not the same without the jolly snowman in view from across campus and Lake Hollingsworth.
While students and many community residents wanted to replace Dean Holiday nothing of substance had come about. However, on October 3 of this year the FSC alumni announced on thei rsocial media tha they would be starting a campaign to bring the snowman back to cmapus through raising funds.” Every gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000, doubling your impact and bringing Dean’s magic back to life” the Facebook post said. By Oct 15 over half of the funds had been raised. Despite this existing news and hopeful rebirth, no updates have been given since then leaving the community to wonder if they will once again be the home to the holly jolly snowman.
