The Winter Ball, a yearly tradition at Saint Viator, has been around for as long as time can tell. But it’s time to place the bets, since on February 24th Saint Viator’s official Casino-Night-themed Winter Ball will undoubtedly hit the jackpot. For this year, a night at the casino will be awaiting all those ready for it, and poker faces are a must! Students will be called to leave no dare unchallenged, set their bets at the table, and each try their luck with the spin of the slot machine.
Traditionally, Winter Ball offers many high school students a chance to let loose and have fun—similar to Homecoming—promotan incredible night to spend with friends. Usually occurring in February, December, or mainly any of the winter months, the Winter Ball debuted in the 1940s when dances were becoming popular events. It was also referred to as “Christmas Dance” or “Christmas Prom” before eventually achieving its current name. The tradition became even more popular in the late 1970s and 80s by spreading to different schools, eventually being referred to as a “Holiday Ball.” The tradition has gone through many changes throughout the years but still persists as the wintertime’s favorite dance.
Yet when compared to its predecessor, the Homecoming Dance, Winter Ball is not necessarily the exact same. Although lots of laughs and great DJ-sourced music are guaranteed, Winter Ball comes across as more of a couples dance. This is largely in part due to the ‘turnabout’ nature the dance suggests, in which, instead of boy-asks-girl format, a girl would ask a boy. Some find this inconvenient, as the dance is limited to a more romantic atmosphere, which can turn some away.
“Turnabout is a bit less exciting than Homecoming because there are a lot less people,” said junior Artem Gryniv. “It feels more like a couples dance than a dance-dance.”
But this idea also proves invalid in some respects, as many students also contend that finding a date does not prove to be a chief reason for lower attendance numbers for the dance. Atmosphere, rather, proves to be another possible reason for the Winter Ball’s less-promulgated nature, found in a lack of anticipation in the days leading up to the event. Unlike Homecoming, the Winter Ball doesn’t have an associated football game or spirit week, which leads students, primarily underclassmen. to have a lack of awareness for the event.
“There’s not really a lot of hype for the Winter Ball,” said Junior Sean Fitzpatrick. “For my freshman year, if I hadn’t known about it through word of mouth, I probably wouldn’t have gone.”
Nonetheless, promotion for the event has definitely improved. The class of 2025 will definitely need it too, as all proceeds from the Winter Ball will fund their prom. But with the help of daily announcements and the putting up of fliers, schoolwide awareness has only increased, which will hopefully make this year’s dance Saint Viator’s best. Tickets are $25 per person, so raise the stakes, fake mistakes, and make sure to roll the die at this year’s Winter Ball!