Green for the Holidays

The students celebrate late and earlya splendid Renaissance feast in January, Kwanzaa in mid-November, hasty partying before exams and the bus out of town. But there is one night in early December when town and gown come together for comfort and joy. Carols chime from Baker. Main Street, closed to cars, fills with nine groups' music and the smell of roasted chestnuts. Santa does his thing next to the Nugget. There are model trains in the Inn, hayrides, a story reading. It's not Dartmouth Night; no parade or bonfire. But if you return on this night, it might feel very much like a homecoming.