Hearth-breathing enjoyable: A take a look at Cornell College’s Dragon Day custom
In relation to quirky school traditions, Cornell College takes the cake—or somewhat, the hearth—with its annual Dragon Day. This fiery celebration isn’t simply an bizarre campus occasion, it’s a decades-old custom that mixes creativity, rivalry, and only a trace of chaos.
What Is Dragon Day?
Yearly in March, Cornell’s structure college students unleash their inside legendary creatures by designing, constructing, and parading an infinite dragon throughout campus. The spotlight? The dramatic showdown between the dragon created by structure college students and the engineering college students’ counter-display, usually a phoenix or another symbolic rival creation. It’s a spirited day crammed with costumes, chants, and a parade that looks like a medieval fantasy.
The Historical past of Dragon Day
The custom dates again to the 1900s, when scholar and structure visionary Willard Straight first launched the concept. His intention was to foster camaraderie and sophistication pleasure throughout the structure program. Little did he know, his dragon dream would ignite a campus custom that has lasted over a century.
Initially, Dragon Day was a comparatively modest affair, however because the years rolled on, the dragons grew bigger, the parades turned extra elaborate, and the rivalry with the engineers intensified. The occasion has even seen a couple of controversies, together with pranks, allow disputes, and, every so often, security considerations.
Previously, college students integrated fireplace into their designs or costumes, which sometimes led to hazardous conditions. The usage of flammable supplies and the sheer dimension of the dragons additionally raised crimson flags, prompting stricter oversight by campus officers. In some years, Dragon Day confronted bureaucratic hurdles, with the administration tightening guidelines round permits and parades. Considerations about noise, disruption to courses, and legal responsibility pressured organizers to reduce or modify the occasion. In 2016, new restrictions on the parade route sparked backlash from college students, who felt the modifications diluted the custom’s spirit.
Dragon Day has additionally served as a platform for bigger campus points. In 1972, college students used the occasion to protest the Vietnam Struggle, integrating political messaging into the parade. Whereas this added a layer of activism to the occasion, it additionally sparked debates about its objective and neutrality as a convention. However by all of it, the custom has endured.
Why Dragons?
Effectively, why not? Dragons symbolize power, creativity, and a contact of rise up—all qualities cherished by structure college students. The selection additionally highlights their means to deliver fantastical concepts to life, mixing artistry with engineering.
The Trendy-Day Spectacle
As we speak, Dragon Day is a cherished campus custom that brings collectively college students from all disciplines. The dragon, constructed by first-year structure college students, takes weeks of planning and development. On parade day, it snakes its method throughout campus, flanked by costumed college students and cheered on by friends.
Enjoyable Reality: In 2020, as a result of pandemic, the dragon “paraded” nearly, showcasing the custom’s adaptability even within the face of challenges. So, for those who ever end up at Cornell in March, look out for the fire-breathing beast—it’s not simply custom, it’s an establishment!
