‘Twas a Night Around Finals

Ginger Ambler reads her annual rendition of "'Twas the Night After Finals" during the Yule Log ceremony. Photo by Stephen Salpukas / William & Mary

Starting with former Vice President of Student Affairs Sam Sadler ‘64, William & Mary’s annual Yule Log celebration includes a reinterpretation of Moore’s poem that makes fun of finals. Virginia Ambler, the current Vice President of Student Affairs, has kept up the tradition and writes a new version every year. In 2020, the Yule Log celebration was a virtual event, showing that traditions can always be reimagined for new circumstances. Included in this online celebration are festive recipes from our holdings in Special Collections, arts and crafts suggestions, and, of course, Virginia Ambler reading this year’s reinterpretation of ‘Twas the Night After Finals.

Christmas is far from the only religious holiday that members of William & Mary celebrate and recognize. If you are interested in finding out more, the Center for Student Diversity keeps a calendar with brief descriptions of holidays that people of different religions celebrate during the academic year.

Yule Log

Right before students take off for Winter Break, William & Mary holds its long-awaited Yule Log ceremony. On a chilly Williamsburg night, the whole student body squeezes into the Wren Courtyard where festive “cressets” (wood-burning torches) warm the crowd. The students are treated to live holiday music and student speeches explaining international holiday traditions. Finally, the university president takes the stage in holiday attire and reads a selected story book to the crowd - the climax of each year's festivities. Afterward, frozen students pile into the Great Hall to toss ceremonial sprigs of holly into the Yule log fire for good luck. Then it’s hot cider and sugar cookies for everybody.

Watch Vice President of Student Affairs Virginia Ambler reading 2020’s reinterpretation of ‘Twas the Night After Finals; she was introduced by Abram Clear '21, Vice President of Omicron Delta Kappa.

Students gather in the Wren Courtyard for the annual Yule Log celebration. Photo by Nicholas Meyer '22 / William & Mary

Students gather in the Wren Courtyard for the annual Yule Log celebration. Photo by Stephen Salpukas / William & Mary

In recent years, students have created a new tradition of adorning the trees in the Wren portico with paper doves, along with messages of gratitude. Photo by Nicholas Meyer '22 / William & Mary

W&M President Katherine A. Rowe speaks to the crowd gathered for the Yule Log Ceremony. Photo by Nicholas Meyer '22 / William & Mary

The Yule log is carried through the crowd and lit in the fireplace of the Great Hall. Photo by Stephen Salpukas / William & Mary

Frozen students pile into the Great Hall to toss ceremonial sprigs of holly into the Yule log fire for good luck. Photo by Stephen Salpukas / William & Mary

A participant throws a sprig of holly onto the Yule log fire. Photo by Nicholas Meyer '22 / William & Mary

A participant throws a sprig of holly onto the Yule log fire. Photo by Stephen Salpukas / William & Mary

Images of previous Yule Log celebrations in the Wren Courtyard.
Photos by Nicholas Meyer '22 and Stephen Salpukas / William & Mary

Similar to the poem read at the annual Yule Log ceremony, Jenny Kane, Arts Correspondent for The Advocate, wrote a "'Twas the night before finals" parody of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" for William & Mary's Marshall-Wythe law students.

Jenny Kane, "The Arts Brief: Holiday Edition," The Advocate 5, No. 7 (Dec 2007): 12. [Accessible OCR pdf]