The Return Of Fontbonne Christmas

Olivia Bodnar '23

The long awaited return of our beloved Fontbonne Christmas is here. Out of all the holidays here at Fontbonne, I think I speak for everyone when I say that it’s probably the most favored tradition. Fontbonne Christmas has been a custom every year, but was unfortunately cut short, modified, or omitted entirely by the Covid-19 pandemic.

During our freshman year, we seniors heard so many great things about Fontbonne Christmas. You got to watch movies in classes, participate in door decoration contests, wear festive attire and scream “The 12 Days of Christmas” at the top of your lungs (which was everyone’s favorite part).

Every day going to school, everyone constantly talked about Christmas. As freshmen, we were all very curious and excited by all the talk surrounding it. We talked with some classmates who had experienced it, and they raved about how absolutely amazing it was. They loved every second of it. They told us how each grade has to sing their line and it was going to be our first time participating in it. When the day came and it was our time to shine, we gave it our all. Our whole grade screamed to the top of their lungs and the seniors cheered for us.

A few months later, however, was when everything went wrong. March of freshman year, the pandemic hit, and everything went online. Sophomore year was no different - some of us were back in school, but most were just doing everything virtually. Our Christmas couldn’t happen since the whole point is coming together as a school. We found our ways around it, though - through virtual mass and attempts to come together even when we were apart.

Junior year was something similar, although we were back in school. The singing of “The 12 Days of Christmas” was optional, took place after winter break, and was quickly sung by a few small groups from each grade in the courtyard, trying to be heard over the wind. It wasn’t a real Fontbonne Christmas, not everyone together in the gym in the relative darkness screaming until you couldn’t hear anymore.

Finally, after years of waiting, the long awaited return of our beloved Fontbonne Christmas is back. We weren’t completely sure if it would make its return, especially because of the recent outbreaks of coronavirus, but luckily enough we can engage in this tradition together again. All of us cannot wait to scream at the top of our lungs as one big Fontbonne family again.