The holiday season was in full swing Sunday afternoon at the Cathedral of Learning with the… The holiday season was in full swing Sunday afternoon at the Cathedral of Learning with the building’s annual Holiday Open House. Visitors were given the chance to see the recently decorated Nationality Rooms decked out for the season.

The Nationality Rooms’ committees have decorated their respective rooms for more than 40 years of holidays.

Margaret and Ralph Ellis have been coming to the open house for as long as they can remember. They said the diversity of the food is their favorite thing about the event.

“We come here every year, then go to Heinz Chapel,” Margaret Ellis said.

“It’s a full day for us; we don’t get out much,” her husband added.

Each Nationality Room was staffed with a guide dressed in ethnic clothing to represent the respective country. Spectators quietly listened as each guide explained a little about the room’s country.

Elizabeth Jeffries, a representative from the Welsh Room, takes her exhibit on the road. One of her recent stops was the Indiana University of Pennsylvania library. Jeffries said that a Welsh tea party will be held at the University Book Center in January.

The Welsh Room is yet to be completed, but eventually will be located in Room 342.

“Fundraising is expected to be done in two or three years,” said Jack Owen, a Welsh Room representative.

The Commons Room featured musical and dance performances, a variety of ethnic foods and handmade crafts provided by representatives from the Nationality Rooms.

The African Heritage, Austrian, Chinese, Czechoslovak, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Indian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Latin American, Philippine, Polish, Swiss, Syria-Lebanese, Turkish, Ukrainian, Welsh and Yugoslav committees all participated in the event. The Women’s International Club and Quo Vadis, a group that gives tours of the Cathedral, joined in as well.

The entertainment consisted of pantomime of African American history, the Chinese New Year Lion Dance, the Philippine Tinkling and Bulgarian performers as well as Indian, Italian and Latin American dancers.

“We’ve been here as long as it’s been going on,” said Irene Jakubowski, a representative from the Polish Room. She said that “it was a beautiful day; that probably caused a big turnout.”

Jakubowski said that her committee also decorates the Christmas tree in the Polish Room.

“I’m surprised I hadn’t heard about this until this year,” senior Tim Kroll said. “I love all the different food.”