Deck the halls and light a menorah; it’s time for Georgia Southern University’s annual Winter Holiday Cultural Celebration.

Students can learn how different cultures and religions celebrate this time of year at the Winter Holiday Cultural Celebration today from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Russell Union Commons.

“So often we’re bombarded with information about the big holidays like Hanukkah, Kwanza and Christmas. We want to educate our student body about other cultures and religions that celebrate different holidays as well,”Michelle Allen, graduate assistant of the Multicultural Student Center, said.

Some of the holidays that will be represented at the Winter Holiday Cultural Celebration will include the well-known Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza, but also some of the more unfamiliar holidays such as Bodhi, Ramadan and Advent, as well as others.

The Winter Holiday Cultural Celebration has taken place at GSU for over five years now. Like these holidays have their unique traditions, this event has become a tradition at GSU.

“People should come because they can learn about other cultures they may not have known about otherwise,” graduate assistant of the Multicultural Student Center Quintara Jernigan, said.

The Winter Celebration will consist of student organizations and members of the GSU and surrounding communities at various tables speaking about their culture.

“It’s a celebration. It’s a huge inclusion of all different cultures, and it gives people a chance to mingle,” assistant director of student affairs Christopher Pugh, said.

There will also be cake and punch provided to maximize the celebratory aspect of the Winter Holiday Cultural Celebration.

“It’s celebratory and informative,” Pugh said.

There are so many different winter holiday celebrations around the globe, and the Winter Holiday Cultural Celebration provides a chance to bring some of those celebrations to the students of GSU.

Pugh said, “We can’t celebrate them all, but we want to try to celebrate as many of the winter holidays as we can.”