10 Princeton Traditions You Should Know About

Since Princeton University has such a famous name, you might think you already know everything about this Ivy League school. But a school that’s been around since the 1700s has collected plenty of stories, traditions, and fun facts. Instead of digging through the internet, keep reading to discover some iconic Princeton traditions you might not expect.

• Top 10 Princeton University Traditions
• Other Fun Facts about Princeton University
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Top 10 Princeton University Traditions

If you’re thinking about attending an Ivy League school, Princeton University should be on your list. Ranked the #1 national university by U.S. News & World Report, Princeton is one of the most historic and prestigious colleges in the world.

With just a 4.6% acceptance rate, getting in is no small feat. You’ll be up against over 38,000 applicants to earn a spot.

But once you’re admitted, there’s much more to Princeton than academics. Campus life revolves around quirky student competitions, long-standing events, and traditions that bring the community together. Below are 10 Princeton traditions every Tiger should know:

1. The Pre-rade

The Pre-rade is your official welcome to Princeton. After convocation, you’ll run through FitzRandolph Gate while upperclassmen, alumni, and the student band cheer you on. It’s loud, fast, and full of Tiger pride. In short, it’s your first big moment as a Princeton student!

That’s not all, though! According to campus legend, if you walk out of FitzRandolph Gate before graduation, you won’t make it to commencement. That’s why students go out of their way to avoid stepping through it for four years. Only seniors walk through the gate again at graduation.

Many students take this superstition seriously. Some don’t believe it, but they’re unwilling to test it. Better safe than sorry, right?

The Pre-rade begins after Opening Exercises at the chapel. You’ll follow a route past East Pyne and Chancellor Green, march through FitzRandolph Gate, and end at Blair Arch for the “Step Sing,” where you’ll learn “Old Nassau,” Princeton’s alma mater, alongside classmates and alumni.

2. Princeton Reunions

Every year, more than 25,000 alumni, family, and guests return to campus for Princeton Reunions. It’s one of the biggest alumni gatherings in the country, filled with music, lectures, campus tours, and class parties. For many graduates, it’s the best excuse to tour old stomping grounds and reconnect with friends.

These reunions are a huge part of what keeps Princeton’s alumni community strong and involved. Graduates fly in from across the country and around the world to see familiar faces, meet current students, and celebrate how far they’ve come since their own days at Princeton.

One of the biggest highlights is the “P-rade,” a campus-wide parade where alumni march with their class year, often joined by family members. Each graduating class designs its own class jacket, which students wear for the first time during Reunions weekend. Over the years, classes have made the P-rade even more lively with elaborate costumes, signs, and stunts.

If the Pre-rade welcomes first-years, the P-rade honors alumni and gives seniors one final walk through campus before graduation.

3. Cane Spree

Cane Spree is one of Princeton’s oldest and most unusual traditions. Every fall, first-year and sophomore students face off in an intramural competition filled with relay races, obstacle courses, and the main event: cane wrestling. Each match features a freshman and a sophomore grappling to control a wooden cane, all in good fun.

This tradition actually comes from a pretty intense history. Back in the 1860s, it was fashionable for men to carry fancy canes. When freshmen strutted around campus with them, sophomores weren’t impressed. They started stealing the canes and sometimes used them as weapons! What began as chaotic class brawls eventually became a safer, school-run tradition.

Today’s Cane Spree is much more controlled but still carries that same competitive energy. The event takes place in the football stadium and ends with a casual barbecue for everyone involved. It’s no longer about winning or losing but class spirit and bragging rights.

4. The Big Three Bonfire

The Big Three Bonfire is a super rare tradition. It only happens when the football team finishes the season with the best record among the Big Three: Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. In short, Princeton has to beat both Harvard and Yale, which doesn’t happen every year.  Many students go all four years without seeing one. But when it does happen, it’s unforgettable!

The bonfire takes place on Cannon Green, in the heart of campus. Students help build a huge wooden structure, decorated with Yale and Harvard signs and sometimes even effigies. Each class gets a chance during the day to add something to the pile. By nightfall, the whole campus gathers to watch it burn.

This tradition goes back to the 1800s, when bonfires were used to celebrate wins in college baseball. Today, it brings out students, alumni, faculty, and even local residents, all cheering together as flames light up the night sky.

The most recent bonfire happened in 2021, and students still talk about it. If you’re lucky enough to see one during your time at Princeton, it’s sure to be the kind of memory that stays with you long after graduation.

5. The “Locomotive”

Did you know that Princeton played an important role in the history of college cheering? As early as the mid-1800s, students were already shouting organized cheers at sports games and other campus events. In fact, the term “cheer-leader” was used at Princeton as early as 1897, with appointed students leading chants at football practices and games.

Today, Princeton’s most famous cheer is called the Locomotive. It dates back to at least 1894 and goes like this:

Rah rah rah

Tiger, tiger, tiger

Sis, sis, sis

Boom, boom, boom, ah!

Princeton! Princeton! Princeton!

The cheer is called the “Locomotive” because it mimics the sound of a train starting slow and gaining speed. You’ll hear it at major events, football games, and even Reunions. It’s loud, it’s old-school, and it’s a tradition every Princeton student learns to chant with pride.

6. Eating club culture

Are you a foodie or someone who enjoys a good meal with friends? At Princeton, upperclassmen don’t just eat in dining halls but join “eating clubs,” which are private social and dining clubs located along Prospect Avenue. These clubs are a big part of Princeton culture, combining shared meals with parties, events, and a strong sense of community.

There are 11 active eating clubs, and most juniors and seniors join one. Six use a selective interview process called “bicker,” including Cap, Ivy, and Tower. Meanwhile, others like Terrace and Cloister use a sign-in lottery, while Charter Club uses a points system to select members.

Each club has its own vibe, traditions, and type of food. Some are more laid-back and artsy, while others are known for their parties or strong alumni ties. No matter which one you choose, the clubs offer a way to make your college life more personal and connected in your junior and senior years.

7. Ivy stones

One quiet but meaningful Princeton tradition is the Ivy stone. Since 1879, each graduating class has placed a stone engraved with its class year on the side of a campus building, most often Nassau Hall. For many years, these stones were paired with sprigs of ivy, which gave the tradition its name.

The idea was simple: leave a visible mark on campus that would last for generations. As you walked past, you could trace Princeton’s history just by reading the stones. But after nearly 150 years, there’s no more room in the building. Starting with the Class of 2018, new stones are now placed in the ground along the walkways leading to Nassau Hall.

Even with this change, the tradition continues. Wherever they’re placed, class stones still represent legacy, community, and your lasting connection to Princeton.

8. The “Holder Howl”

Every semester, on the night before Dean’s Date, Princeton students let out a collective scream at midnight. Outside Holder Hall, it’s called the “Holder Howl,” a full minute of howling from windows, balconies, and courtyards to release all the stress built up during reading period.

Dean’s Date is when final papers and projects are due, so the days leading up to it are intense. The midnight scream reminds you that you’re not alone. Other dorms have their own names for it, like the “Whitman Wail,” but the meaning is the same: shared pressure, shared relief.

Earlier that night, dining halls also host a free late-night breakfast to keep everyone going. Between the waffles and the howling, Princeton definitely makes space for both hard work and small moments of community during finals.

9. Forbes Garden and Sunday Brunch

Forbes College is a little farther from the central campus but is home to two of Princeton’s best-kept traditions: the Forbes Garden and Sunday Brunch. The garden is run by students through the Princeton Garden Project. You can volunteer to help weed, harvest, and learn about sustainable growing right in your own backyard!

But what really draws students to Forbes is the legendary Sunday Brunch. It’s one of the most talked-about meals on campus, with shrimp cocktail, baked brie, bagels, a cheese board, and yes, a chocolate fountain! Some students joke that it’s the only thing that gets people out of bed early on a Sunday. And honestly, who could blame them?

10. Outdoorsy activities

With a scenic New Jersey campus and easy access to nearby trails, forests, and the Delaware and Raritan Canal, Princeton is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. If you like nature, you’ll find plenty of chances to get outside and explore during the school year.

Princeton’s Outdoor Action (OA) program is best known for its pre-orientation backpacking trips for incoming first-years, but it also hosts hikes, climbing trips, and other adventures throughout the year. Whether you’re up for rock climbing or want a peaceful nature walk, there’s something for everyone.

OA also runs events like OA Day, where students can try new outdoor activities and meet people from across campus. You don’t need experience, just curiosity—and maybe a pair of hiking shoes.

Other Fun Facts about Princeton University

You’ve learned about Princeton’s most iconic traditions. Now here are a few fun facts to round out your view of campus life:

1. Origin of the word “campus”

Here’s a fun fact you probably haven’t heard: the word “campus” as we use it today started at Princeton! In Latin, campus simply meant “field” or “open space,” but it was Princeton that first used the word to describe college grounds.

In the 18th century, students and faculty at Princeton began referring to the open area in front of Nassau Hall as “the campus.” From there, the term caught on, eventually spreading to other colleges and universities across the country.

Today, “campus” is used around the world to describe the physical space of a school. It’s a small detail, but it shows how Princeton helped shape not only academic life but even the language we use to talk about it.

2. The Princeton Tiger

Tigers are everywhere at Princeton, from statues in front of Nassau Hall to carvings on buildings and hidden details in campus art. The mascot has been part of the university’s identity for over 100 years! But out of all the American schools and sports teams with tiger mascots, Princeton was actually the first to adopt the nickname.

In the 1880s, football players wore orange and black striped uniforms, and sportswriters began calling them “tigers.” The name caught on, and the tiger quickly became a part of campus life. By the 1940s, the Tiger was showing up at games and other student events.

Today, the tiger represents strength, confidence, and leadership. It’s not just a mascot for the field but a reflection of the bold, energetic spirit Princeton encourages in every student.

3. Orange and black

You can’t talk about Princeton without talking about its colors: orange and black. For more than a century, students and alumni have proudly worn these colors to show their connection to the university.

The tradition started in 1867 at a baseball game against Yale. A Princeton freshman named George Ward suggested using orange in honor of William III of the House of Nassau, who also held the title Prince of Orange. Since Nassau Hall was named after him, the color choice stuck—and so did the black to make it bold.

Now, remember those class jackets from the P-rade? They’re one of the most iconic uses of orange and black. Seniors wear them during Class Day and alumni bring them back for Reunions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some fun Princeton senior traditions?

Senior year at Princeton comes with a few memorable milestones. Seniors walk through FitzRandolph Gate at graduation, wear class jackets for Class Day and Reunions, and participate in the P-rade. They also leave a class stone near Nassau Hall to mark their legacy.

2. What is Princeton best known for?

Princeton is known for its top-ranked academics, generous financial aid, and strong alumni network. It’s especially renowned for its majors in public policy, mathematics, and the humanities. The university is also famous for its historic campus and rich traditions.

3. Is Princeton the hardest Ivy?

Princeton is one of the most selective Ivies and universities in the U.S. The school doesn’t require a minimum GPA for applicants, but the average GPA of those who get accepted is around 3.94. It’s extremely competitive, especially for top programs, though whether it’s “the hardest” depends on what you’re comparing—admissions, academics, or campus culture.

Takeaways

• Princeton’s major traditions include the Pre-rade, Reunions, and Cane Spree. All these events bring generations of Tigers together and highlight important milestones in student life.
• Other beloved traditions include the Forbes Sunday brunch, the eating club culture, and the rare but unforgettable Big Three Bonfire.
• Fun facts about Princeton include being the first school to use the word “campus” to describe college grounds and the first to adopt a tiger as its mascot.
• Princeton combines academic excellence, a rich tradition of campus rituals, and a tight-knit community that stays connected long after graduation.
• Need extra help getting into Princeton? A college admissions expert can help you craft a standout application to improve your chances of admission.