Who would not love a great scare, particularly whenever you’re in school? Don’t fear, we’re not speaking about finals (although these might be fairly terrifying). We’re speaking in regards to the spookiest competition of the yr: Halloween! Every yr, you and your mates gown up in creepy costumes, exit for some enjoyable, or possibly take pleasure in just a little trick-or-treating (let’s be trustworthy, we’re all youngsters relating to sweet). But do you know there’s one college that takes Halloween to a complete new degree? Welcome to Georgetown University, residence to a backbone-chilling custom that makes Halloween way over only a horror film marathon.
For the previous 40 years, the Georgetown Programming Board (GPB), a pupil run group at Georgetown University, has hosted an occasion referred to as Haunted Healy on the Saturday earlier than Halloween. During this occasion, the second flooring of Healy Hall is reworked right into a haunted home. Students volunteer to decorate up as terrifying creatures, chasing their friends and creating nightmares that may final a lifetime. Fun truth: According to the college’s official web site, this eerie custom is predicated on an city legend that claims the higher flooring of Healy Hall are sealed off due to an exorcism that when befell there.
Speaking of exorcisms, Georgetown’s Halloween celebrations do not cease there. Did you realize that the enduring 1973 movie The Exorcist Was filmed in and across the campus? Talk about spooky connections! For years, GPB has hosted a late-evening screening of The Exorcist on Copley Lawn the evening earlier than Halloween. After the movie, college students head to the Jesuit graveyard to howl on the moon because the clock strikes midnight, formally ushering in Halloween. This custom is called Healy Howl.
In 2023, The Healy Howlwas ranked #1 on Niche’s listing of probably the most outrageous traditions at US faculties, based on the college’s official web site. Niche is an training advertising and marketing agency that connects college students and dad and mom with colleges and universities.
Here’s one other enjoyable truth: William Peter Blatty (C’50), the writer of The Exorcistwas impressed to put in writing the novel after studying about an actual exorcism that occurred in Mount Rainier throughout his time at Georgetown University.
now that is a practice horror fanatics will not wish to miss!
