The Hanging of the Greens is thought to be the oldest tradition at UNM, and for one of the event's coordinators, it's a family thing, too.
"My mom did it when she was here," said Amy Weber, co-chairwoman of Hanging of the Greens, which takes place tonight on campus from 6 to 9 p.m. "She's pretty excited about (my being involved), and she was going to drive over for the weekend, but it just didn't work out."
Weber's mother, Cheryl, received a bachelor's degree from UNM in 1977 before going on to medical school here. The family later moved to Lubbock, Texas, where Cheryl lives today.
The University tradition dates back to the 1930s.
Each Dec. 5, the campus is lit up with more than 10,000 luminarias from Scholes Hall to the Duck Pond to the Residence Halls. A group of a few hundred convenes in front of the Alumni Chapel at 6 p.m. and follows the lighted path singing Christmas carols.
The congregation this year is slated to arrive at University House about an hour later, where it will present President Louis Caldera and his wife with a wreath.
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Diane Gwinn, a presidential aide, said the whole UNM community is invited to University House for hot cider, posole and roast turkey at the event's conclusion.
Caldera, she said, is excited to play host to the carolers.
"It's going to be the start of the first holiday season for him and his family in New Mexico," Gwinn said. "It's always a nice way to start the holidays."
UNM's chapter of Mortar Board took over the duties of sponsoring and coordinating the event, which employs the services of more than 20 student organizations, in the 1950s.
Mortar Board, Inc., is a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for distinguished ability and achievement in scholarship, leadership and service.
The Hanging of the Greens "is something that takes the whole semester" to plan, co-chairman David Piech said. "We start in September and try to get the word out as soon as possible."
Mortar Board officials assign each participating organization an area of campus where the groups will install the luminarias - brown paper bags filled with sand and a small votive candle - Piech said.
Some groups, such as the Panhellenic Council and Golden Key, are Hanging of the Greens mainstays and handle the same area each year, he said. This year, though, more fraternities are participating, so they will be assigned new spots.
Student organizations receive 250 luminarias, costing $50, or 500 for $100, Mortar Board adviser Susan Corban said.
Those fees offset the roughly $1,600 cost of the supplies, she said.
"It's a little frustrating because some groups would like to participate, but they don't have it in their budget," Corban said.
Corban said the luminarias are free to the public tomorrow morning. Those that aren't claimed will be cleaned up by the University's Physical Plant Department.
