Homecoming Traditions

Fall at Dartmouth is a wonderful time. The trees are golden and the grass is still green. The air is crisp and clear but the sun still warms the midday air. The weather is perfect for sports. Fresh, local apples fill the cafeterias. Everyone is excited to be back on campus and large groups of freshman awkwardly congest food court queues.

Nothing epitomizes fall at Dartmouth better than Homecoming weekend. Parties start Wednesday night, teachers stop giving you a hard time by Thursday, and visiting alums crowd the streets. The highlight of the weekend is without a doubt the bonfire that is erected in the center of the Green. Friday night, alums and upperclassmen form a circle around the bonfire and yell themselves hoarse as the members of the freshman class (this year, the class of 2010, or '10s, as we call them) run around the towering flames 110 times - the number of times of their graduation year. This Dartmouth tradition is a great rite of passage for freshmen.

The rest of the weekend is filled by athletic events and parties. Alums are always well represented at both, which is without a doubt one of my favorite aspects of Dartmouth. Alumni will always feel like they are a part of this community.

Every term at Dartmouth is anchored by its big weekend full of traditions: Homecoming, Winter Carnival, and Green Key weekend. These are occasions for students, alumni, and families to celebrate what they are a part of; to celebrate the rich culture and heritage that make Dartmouth far more than just a school.