Fire-breathing fun: A look at Cornell University’s Dragon Day tradition – Newz9

When it involves quirky faculty traditions, Cornell University takes the cake—or somewhat, the hearth—with its annual Dragon Day. This fiery celebration is not simply an peculiar campus occasion, it is a many years-outdated tradition that mixes creativity, rivalry, and only a trace of chaos.

What Is Dragon Day?

Every yr 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-show, usually a phoenix or another symbolic rival creation. It’s a spirited day crammed with costumes, chants, and a parade that appears like a medieval fantasy.

The History of Dragon Day

The tradition dates again to the 1900s, when scholar and structure visionary Willard Straight first launched the concept. His purpose was to foster camaraderie and sophistication pleasure throughout the structure program. Little did he know, his dragon dream would ignite a campus tradition 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 number of controversies, together with pranks, allow disputes, and, now and again, security considerations.
In the previous, college students integrated hearth into their designs or costumes, which sometimes led to hazardous conditions. The use of flammable supplies and the sheer measurement of the dragons additionally raised purple flags, prompting stricter oversight by campus officers. In some years, Dragon Day confronted bureaucratic hurdles, with the administration tightening guidelines round permits and parades. Concerns about noise, disruption to lessons, and legal responsibility pressured organizers to reduce or alter the occasion. In 2016, new restrictions on the parade route sparked backlash from college students, who felt the adjustments diluted the tradition’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 War, integrating political messaging into the parade. While this added a layer of activism to the occasion, it additionally sparked debates about its objective and neutrality as a tradition. But by all of it, the tradition has endured.

Why Dragons?

Well, why not? Dragons symbolize energy, creativity, and a contact of revolt—all qualities cherished by structure college students. The selection additionally highlights their capacity to carry fantastical concepts to life, mixing artistry with engineering.

The Modern-Day Spectacle

Today, Dragon Day is a cherished campus tradition that brings collectively college students from all disciplines. The dragon, constructed by first-yr structure college students, takes weeks of planning and development. On parade day, it snakes its manner throughout campus, flanked by costumed college students and cheered on by friends.
Fun Fact: In 2020, because of the pandemic, the dragon “paraded” nearly, showcasing the tradition’s adaptability even within the face of challenges. So, in case you ever end up at Cornell in March, look out for the hearth-respiratory beast—it is not simply tradition, it is an establishment!