Have you ever seen a group of college students running naked on the streets? Or have you ever seen thousands of pairs of shoes hanging together on a tree? In India, we may not even be able to imagine this, but in the world’s most developed country, America, many such practices have been going on for decades.
Somewhere this custom is associated with good luck, somewhere it is believed that following these rituals will keep the couples safe. In a college in America, girls kiss a rock in the hope that by doing so they will get engaged soon. So let us introduce you to some such strange customs of American universities.
Williams College: Students run to the President’s office naked
Among the institutions with strange rituals, Williams College of Massachusetts is at the top. Here, the students taking new admission run naked from the hostel to the local office of the President’s House at midnight before the college starts. This ritual started 84 years ago in 1940, which is still continuing. Students believe that doing this infuses new energy in the new students.
A similar tradition is also prevalent in Wesleyan University of Connecticut. Students of this university run naked across the campus every six months at the end of the semester. This tradition started here in 1970, the purpose of which is said to be to remove stress from the lives of students. Students of the University of California also do this.
Wellesley College: Girls get engaged after kissing Kissing Rock
Indians either observe Vrat-Vast or go to Baba-Vairagi to get worried about marriage. But the people of America are also no less in doing tricks for this matter. There is a ‘Kissing Rock’ in Wellesley College of Massachusetts, US. It is believed that the girl student who kisses this kissing rock, gets engaged within a year. This tradition is more than 100 years old (1900). Every day in Wellesley College, girls are seen kissing the kissing rock.
Murray University: Where couples hang shoes on trees to keep their love alive
You will be surprised to know that a tradition related to a tree is going on in America, about 13 thousand kilometers away from India. This tradition going on in Murray State University is about 6 decades i.e. 60 years old. There is a tree in the university, which is famous as ‘Shoe Tree’. New students who are going to become couples hang their shoes on this ‘Shoe Tree’. This tradition started in 1960.
Actually, hundreds of students take admission in Murray University every year. When love blossoms between them, the new couple hangs their shoes on the ‘shoe tree’ in the campus. There is a legend among the students that doing so is a symbol of good luck. This keeps love alive throughout life. It is said that 6 decades ago, after the completion of college, a student was going from the hostel to his home, in the last moments of college, he was not in the mood to take his shoes with him. So he hung his shoes on the tree in the campus. This unique ritual started from then onwards.
Every year, dozens of lovers hang their shoes on this tree in Murray University. Couples do not forget after hanging the shoes, rather they come to the shoe tree every year and celebrate its anniversary. Not only this, when couples start their family, they also hang their child’s small shoes next to their shoes. The ‘shoe tree’ on which this practice is going on at this time is the third tree. Lightning had struck the first tree, due to which it caught fire. The branches of the second tree started falling, after which it was removed in 2015 for safety reasons. Since then, the third tree has been standing firm on the front.
Yale University: Unique custom of rubbing the thumb of a mannequin
New Haven… Just like its name, this city of America is no less than a heaven. This city located in the state of Connecticut has the famous Yale University, where students from all over the world come to study. This university has a unique tradition of rubbing the thumb of a mannequin. The bronze statue of Theodore Dwight Woolsey, former president of Yale University and a student at one time (1820), is installed in the campus. It is a tradition that whoever among the newly admitted students rubs the thumb of Woolsey’s mannequin, his year goes well. Many students who dream of getting admission in Yale University also come and rub Woolsey’s thumb.
Texas A&M University: Tradition of smashing watermelons with a hammer
People use a small or big knife to cut watermelon. But in Texas A&M University of America, as per tradition, watermelon is broken with a hammer. Every year this ritual is organized for the students who pass and leave the university. On the last day of the examination, all the students gather in the campus and are given a hammer in their hands and asked to break the watermelon. This ritual has been organized by the Century Men’s Society, the student organization of the university, since 1905.
Barnard College: New students are fed 750-foot-long sandwiches
To make the new students who take admission in college/university feel good, the alumni organize various events. Similarly, a similar event is organized in Barnard College of New York, in which a 750 feet long chain of sandwiches is made for the new students. All the new students eat these sandwiches together. This practice is called ‘Barnard Big Sub’. Through this tradition, the alumni try to connect with the new students.
Miami University: Rubbing a turtle’s head earns you an A grade
Similarly, Miami University in Ohio state of America also has many traditions. Here, students who want to pass the exam with good marks stop near the Tri Delt Sundial statue built in the university campus. Legend has it that by rubbing the head of the copper turtle here, the student gets an A grade in the exam. However, it is also believed that if the student steps on the seal figure made in the central part of the campus before the exam, then his exam gets spoiled.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)