The Hanging of the Greens, annual tradition at Maryville College
Every fall, when the air begins to bite and the semester tightens around everyone’s shoulders, Maryville College finds a way to pause. For one night, the chapel stops feeling like a place people pass on their way to class and instead becomes something gentler: a gathering space full of light, cinnamon and familiar songs. The Hanging of the Greens, which occurred on Nov. 19, is one of the college’s quietest but most meaningful traditions, arriving at a time when most students need a moment to breathe.
Though its origins aren’t recorded in perfect detail, the tradition is far from new. Amy Lundell, Maryville College archivist said that the earliest mention was in 1965 and annual celebrations began in 1988. Rev. Jessica Lewis, the college chaplain, remembers it clearly from her time as a Maryville College student.
“I was a student from 2003-2007, and I remember it being an annual event then under Campus Minister Rev. Anne McKee. It was my favorite tradition as a student, and I have to admit, it’s my favorite as a staff member as well,” Lewis said.
The event resembles something found in many churches: a gathering to prepare a worship space for the Advent and Christmas seasons. But at Maryville College, it’s less a formal service and more a slow, communal exhale.
“It is a way to build community as people gather and decorate in anticipation of the coming season,” Lewis said. “This event is more of a fellowship gathering than a worship service or ceremony.”
For many students, the tradition carries a feeling of home. Eden Carnes (‘27) grew up attending a small, historic chapel in rural Greenback, Tennessee, where Hanging of the Greens was a cherished yearly ritual.
“This tradition, bundled with the cheer and hopeful spirit of Christmas on its way, was as much of a beckoning of the season as opening the [first prize] on an advent calendar,” Carnes said. Even though she’s been a regular chapel attendee, this is the first year she has been able to attend MC’s Hanging of the Greens.
The ceremony itself has gone through small shifts over the years, shaped naturally by the hands and personalities of the students who take part. Some things, however, are exactly as Lewis remembers: “Laughter, hot apple cider and plenty of greenery to be hung around the CCM.”
Other additions, like her homemade cinnamon rolls and molasses cookies, have their own loyal following. Last year, a craft table where students made ornaments for the tree quickly became a favorite.
“I love walking in every morning, seeing our students’ creativity displayed all over our tree,” Lewis said.
This mix of old and new mirrors the ceremony’s purpose. As the semester becomes heavier and schedules more crowded, Hanging of the Greens offers a night where students can step away from their routines and into something softer.
“I hope that students will feel energized, joyful and loved after attending this event,” Lewis said. “I know this always falls during a very busy and stressful time, and so I hope it can be a respite.”
But beyond the holiday treats and warm drinks, there’s a deeper kind of belonging that forms in the chapel each year. Lewis hopes students leave feeling connected not just to the season, but to the space itself.
“I believe events like this allow our students to feel some ownership of our campus space,” Lewis said. “Students get to decorate the CCM together and make it their own.”
And maybe that’s why the tradition has lasted as long as it has: it makes room for students to shape something together, even if only for one evening. Wandering into the chapel on the night of Hanging of the Greens, you can feel that shared care in the air – warm, bright and quietly joyful.
“I hope that they can enter the doors and be surrounded in cheer and care as they decorate, enjoy goodies and have fun,” Lewis said.
A decorated Christmas tree at The Hanging of the Greens. (Photo courtesy of the Center for Campus Ministry Instagram)