The tradition of singing Christmas melodies in the Atrium of the Pontifical Gregorian University during breaks between lessons has been kept here since the 1950s. At that time, professors and the Rector gathered during the fourth hour of the lessons on the last day before the holidays in front of the Christmas Tree to sing some songs and share Christmas greetings: «Quarta praelectionum hora vacat, de more, et Auditores, praesentibus quoque Rectore e nonnullis Professoribus, nataliciam arborem circumsaepiunt ad natalicios variarum gentium hymnos concinendos ben eque inter se adprecandum» (Liber Annualis Pontificia Universitas Gregoriana Anno 1954-55, p. 69).

Since 1956, the tradition of Christmas carols has taken on a new form with the participation of students alongside the choirs of professors: «Hoc etiam anno apparat ac moderatur piam ceremoniam laetosque cantus pridiani diei vigliae Natalis Domini, adstantibus Alumnis arbori natalliciae in Atrio Universitatis collocatae» (Liber Annualis Pontificia Universitas Gregoriana, Academic Year 1955-56, p. 68).

As time passed, this tradition received new vitality to share the joy, peace and hope of Holy Christmas in the languages and cultures of each one.

 

Christmas Carols calendar 2019-2020

Wednesday, December 11th

• 10:15 – 10:30 > Chaplaincy & Student Relations Office<
• 11:15 – 11:30 > Spanish College

Thursday, December 12th

• 9:15 – 9:30 > Croatian students
• 10:15 – 10:30 > Collegio del Gesù
• 11:15 – 11:30 > Institute of Psychology
• 12:15 – 12:30 > St. Cecilia's Women's Theological College and friends

Friday, December 13th

• 10:15 – 10:30 > Faculty of Missiology
• 11:15 – 11:30 > Indonesia Group

Monday, December 16th

• 9:15 – 9:30 > Armenian College
• 10:15 – 10:30 > Pontifical French Seminar
• 11:15 – 11:30 > 1º Year of Theology (1st Cycle)
• 12:15 – 12:30 > Faculty of History and Cultural Heritage

Tuesday, December 17th

• 9:15 – 9:30 > German-Hungarian College
• 10:15 – 10:30 > Colombian Students
• 11:15 – 11:30 > 3rd Year of Theology (1st Cycle)
• 12:15 – 12:30 > Faculty of Social Science

Wednesday, December 18th

• 9:15 – 9:30 > The Redemptoris Mater Seminar
• 10:15 – 10:30 > Missionaries of Preziosissimo Sangue
• 11:15 – 11:30 > 2nd Year of Theology (1st Cycle)
• 12:15 – 12:30 > Mexican College

Thursday, December 19

• 9:15 – 9:30 > American College
• 10:15 – 10:30 > Professors
• 11:15 – 11:30 > Congolese Students
• 12:15 – 12:30 > Moral Theology