The University catering services has put on the Old English Yuletide Dinner for 35 years in a row. It will be held today and tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.

The theme of the event is holiday traditions from the reign of Elizabeth I.

Every year, the dinner theater was held in the Union ballroom, except for the past two when it was in Olscamp. In the past, about 500 to 550 tickets were sold each night, both Friday and Saturday. This year, the total is about 350.

Most of the people who attend are from the community. Students attend, but not many.

The dinners re-creations holiday traditions of the era. It will feature costumed singers, a wassail bowl, a boar’s head ceremony, flaming plum pudding and a concert of European carols while the multi-course prime dinner is served.

The Bowling Green Singers will be performing throughout the evening. They are directed by Jim Brown.

“They will be dressed in full garb from the era,” Doreen Bateson, catering manager, said.

This is Bateson’s 15 year involved with the dinner theater. She says it is a beautiful show that is worth at least listening to. The singers will be performing English carols as the show goes on through the evening.

A professional mime/comedian from England will also be dressed as a jester to bring comedic relief throughout both nights.

At the beginning of the night, a wassail bowl of traditional hot spice cider will be brought out followed by a salad. “Beef eaters” — men who carry in the boar, starting the feast — walk out carrying its head. The boar head marks the beginning of the prime rib dinner. “They (Beef eaters) are dressed in cute little red tights,” Bateson said. “Everyone wears costumes.”

Tickets — which costed $20 to $25 — are no longer on sale. But next year the dinner theater will be back, creating another spectacular display to bring the Christmas season around a little earlier.