Every December, as the year comes to a close, a cool stillness settles over campus and a certain magic fills the air; the magic of the Christmas season. The semester winds down, fairy lights go up, carols echo from rehearsal rooms and the energy slowly shifts toward warmth and celebration. That is Magnificat.
Organised every year by the Student Welfare Office (SWO), Magnificat is CHRIST University’s annual Christmas celebration. It is not just another event on the calendar, it is a time of shared excitement and comfort, a celebration that brings the entire campus community together in joy and warmth.
The word Magnificat comes from the Latin phrase "Magnificat anima mea Dominum," which means "My soul magnifies the Lord." It is the opening line of a hymn of praise by Mother Mary, in the Bible, after learning she would give birth to Jesus the son of God. Magnificat is a time of reflection, and here, it has come to mean something more. For students, faculty and staff, Magnificat has become something personal, a space to pause, breathe and enjoy the feeling of togetherness that blooms this time of year.
Each year, the event unfolds into a lively, colourful sequence of music, theatre and storytelling. Every act is a masterpiece, created and performed by our students who come together to knit a brilliant tapestry of magic and wonder. And every single time, it comes alive beautifully.
One of the things that makes Magnificat so special is how inclusive it is. While it celebrates the essence of Christmas, it never feels limited. It is an event that holds space for everyone, whether they are singing on stage, setting up lights backstage or simply sitting in the crowd soaking it all in.
Preparations start months in advance. Rehearsal rooms stay lit long after classes end. Costumes are put together, props are painted, lights are tested and last-minute changes are made right up to the final hour. And yet, there is a kind of magic in the chaos, because at the heart of it is a shared goal: to create something meaningful, something that brings people joy and captures the warmth of the Christmas season.
On the day of Magnificat, the campus transforms. Fairy lights wrap around the trees as soft carols play in the background. Performances unfold one after the other and the audience cheers. A festive, deeply comforting blanket seems to wrap the campus and it’s not just because of the winter chill. Everything feels ready; the lights, the laughter, the quiet joy. It is warm in all the ways that matter.
More than the performances or the decorations though, it is the atmosphere that stays with you. There is something about the way people come together for Magnificat, across batches, programmes and roles, that reminds everyone what it means to be part of a community. It is not just about putting on a perfect show. It is about taking part in the season.
For students, Magnificat becomes a kind of second Christmas. It is a reminder that celebration is not about location, it is about people, even if we’re away from home. It is about decorating a space together and finding moments of quiet joy in the middle of everything else.
And just when the night feels like it’s coming to a close, the lantern ceremony begins. One by one, lanterns rise into the sky, carrying with them light, hope and the joy of the season. It’s a quiet but powerful moment. As everyone watches the sky fill with gentle colour, Magnificat finds its meaning in togetherness, and in the simple act of sharing light.
Every year, Magnificat leaves behind more than memories. It becomes a feeling students carry with them through the break and beyond, a reminder of the people they have met, the songs they have sung and the joy of simply being part of a community.
In the end, that is what Magnificat is all about. Not just Christmas. Not just a show. But a celebration of community, creativity and the light we bring to each other year after year.
Every December, as the year comes to a close, a cool stillness settles over campus and a certain magic fills the air; the magic of the Christmas season. The semester winds down, fairy lights go up, carols echo from rehearsal rooms and the energy slowly shifts toward warmth and celebration. That is Magnificat.
Organised every year by the Student Welfare Office (SWO), Magnificat is CHRIST University’s annual Christmas celebration. It is not just another event on the calendar, it is a time of shared excitement and comfort, a celebration that brings the entire campus community together in joy and warmth.
The word Magnificat comes from the Latin phrase "Magnificat anima mea Dominum," which means "My soul magnifies the Lord." It is the opening line of a hymn of praise by Mother Mary, in the Bible, after learning she would give birth to Jesus the son of God. Magnificat is a time of reflection, and here, it has come to mean something more. For students, faculty and staff, Magnificat has become something personal, a space to pause, breathe and enjoy the feeling of togetherness that blooms this time of year.
Each year, the event unfolds into a lively, colourful sequence of music, theatre and storytelling. Every act is a masterpiece, created and performed by our students who come together to knit a brilliant tapestry of magic and wonder. And every single time, it comes alive beautifully.
One of the things that makes Magnificat so special is how inclusive it is. While it celebrates the essence of Christmas, it never feels limited. It is an event that holds space for everyone, whether they are singing on stage, setting up lights backstage or simply sitting in the crowd soaking it all in.
Preparations start months in advance. Rehearsal rooms stay lit long after classes end. Costumes are put together, props are painted, lights are tested and last-minute changes are made right up to the final hour. And yet, there is a kind of magic in the chaos, because at the heart of it is a shared goal: to create something meaningful, something that brings people joy and captures the warmth of the Christmas season.
On the day of Magnificat, the campus transforms. Fairy lights wrap around the trees as soft carols play in the background. Performances unfold one after the other and the audience cheers. A festive, deeply comforting blanket seems to wrap the campus and it’s not just because of the winter chill. Everything feels ready; the lights, the laughter, the quiet joy. It is warm in all the ways that matter.
More than the performances or the decorations though, it is the atmosphere that stays with you. There is something about the way people come together for Magnificat, across batches, programmes and roles, that reminds everyone what it means to be part of a community. It is not just about putting on a perfect show. It is about taking part in the season.
For students, Magnificat becomes a kind of second Christmas. It is a reminder that celebration is not about location, it is about people, even if we’re away from home. It is about decorating a space together and finding moments of quiet joy in the middle of everything else.
And just when the night feels like it’s coming to a close, the lantern ceremony begins. One by one, lanterns rise into the sky, carrying with them light, hope and the joy of the season. It’s a quiet but powerful moment. As everyone watches the sky fill with gentle colour, Magnificat finds its meaning in togetherness, and in the simple act of sharing light.
Every year, Magnificat leaves behind more than memories. It becomes a feeling students carry with them through the break and beyond, a reminder of the people they have met, the songs they have sung and the joy of simply being part of a community.
In the end, that is what Magnificat is all about. Not just Christmas. Not just a show. But a celebration of community, creativity and the light we bring to each other year after year.
