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A Christmas tree is lit on the campus of Brigham Young University on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Provo.

Rebeca Fuentes, BYU Photo

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Students purchase items from the Giving Machine on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at Brigham Young University in Provo.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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People attend Brigham Young University's first-ever Christmas Tree Lighting event Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Provo.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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A girl pets a donkey at a live nativity on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at Brigham Young University in Provo.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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A Christmas tree is lit on the campus of Brigham Young University on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Provo.

Rebeca Fuentes, BYU photo

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A nativity image is projected onto a building on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at Brigham Young University in Provo.

Ellie Alder, BYU Photo

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Brigham Young University ushered in the Christmas season Monday night on its campus with a new tradition.

Approximately 10,000 people packed into Brigham Square to witness the university’s first-ever Christmas tree lighting as part of the school’s ongoing 150th anniversary celebration and its theme of celebrating gifts of light.

Students counted down from 10, and a yellow luminescent glow then appeared from the towering tree standing between the Wilkinson Center and Harold B. Lee Library, prompting a loud roar from the crowd.

“The whole point of this sesquicentennial celebration was to remind us of our unique mission as a university, but to do it in fun, celebratory ways,” BYU Advancement Vice President Keith Vorkink said. “We’d done some research, and we don’t think there’s been a Christmas tree on campus, at least in recorded history, so we thought, what a cool way to celebrate the birth of our Savior.”

The tree lighting, which BYU President Shane Reese declared will be made a tradition, marked the conclusion of a night that held a sequence of activities Vorkink said were directed around remembering Jesus Christ.

Onstage choir performers sang Christmas music, a nativity fitted with real animals was on hand and large nativity images were projected onto the wall of the Harris Fine Arts Center.

Debuting on campus were The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “Light the World” Giving Machines, and long lines of students waited their turn to place a donation.

Vorkink said BYU began working with the church more than a year ago to get the Giving Machines on campus and was able to have them for the first time this year.

“That’s just a way for us to think about, ‘How can we share the gifts that we have with others who are in need?'” he said. “And you’ve seen tonight, there’s been a steady line of people who want to participate in the Giving Machines and find, even in a small way, how you can bless other people.”

The Giving Machines will be on campus throughout December at the Wilkinson Center and in the Marriott Center.

BYU leaders hope Monday’s event sets the tone for how its students should interact with each other and the world during the holiday season.

“Christmas is a time where you can share your gifts with others,” Vorkink said. “And we thought, let’s come together and have fun. And that may prompt us to be a little bit more thoughtful about how we can each celebrate our gifts of light that come from Jesus Christ with other people who need it during the Christmas season.”