Traditions

Columbia is a place unlike any other—full of traditions shaped by our history, our city and by students like you, who infuse our community with energy and perspectives from all around the world. Below, you’ll find just some of the one-of-a-kind moments and opportunities that await you.

Explore a year in the life of a Columbian

Rally 'Round Columbia

As part of the New Student Orientation Program (NSOP), incoming students are welcomed to Columbia's community through a fun ceremony led by the NSOP student committee.

The Owl and Alma Mater

Legend holds that the first member of the incoming class to find the owl hidden on the statue of Alma Mater in Low Plaza will become the class valedictorian.

Latinx Heritage Month

The Latinx Heritage Month committee works closely with Columbia students and the surrounding community to address issues impacting Latinos and Latin Americans internationally, within the United States and on Columbia’s campus. Students can enjoy film screenings, panels, performances and networking events throughout September.

Residence Hall Leadership Organization Send-Off

Held each fall on the South Lawn, the RHLO Send-Off brings together undergraduates from Columbia College, Columbia Engineering and Barnard College for games, carnival-style refreshments and even some inflatables.

Get an inside look at the inspiration and process for Morningside Lights 2022: The Reimagined Monument.

World Leaders Forum

This ongoing event series, anchored by the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York City each September, hosts world leaders from countries and international organizations to engage in discussions and Q&As related to the major issues of our time. Over 300 dignitaries from over 85 countries have visited Columbia as part of the World Leaders Forum since 2003.

LGBTQ+ Awareness

Through guest speakers, film screenings, workshops and discussions, Queer Awareness Month celebrates queer and trans identities and facilitates conversations about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues and history during October. Trans Awareness Week in November features events to raise awareness and educate the Columbia community about the lives and experiences of transgender and gender nonconforming communities. 

Morningside Lights

Morningside Lights is an annual outdoor procession each fall, featuring dozens of lanterns built by members of the Morningside Heights community during a week of free public workshops. Students, families and members of the community are all welcome to attend the workshops and procession.

Homecoming

Every October, thousands of Columbia alumni from every corner of the world return to Morningside Heights to celebrate Homecoming—a weekend full of fall festivities that culminates in a football game between the Lions and an Ivy League rival.

Night Market

The Chinese Students Club transforms Low Steps into the famed Night Markets of China and Taiwan with two massive tents and hundreds of lights, celebrating the enchanting atmosphere and unique traditions of autumn festivals. The program showcases performances and club-run booths, modeled after the famed street markets dedicated to leisurely strolling, shopping and eating tasty snacks.

Charter Day

Charter Day commemorates the signing of the King’s College charter on October 31, 1754. Dean Sorett and other Columbia College administrators celebrate by offering treats, trivia and prizes to students in Hamilton Hall.

For Columbians, the start of winter means two things: the beloved Tree Lighting Ceremony and an epic snowball fight.

Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month in November provides the Columbia University community with programming regarding American Indian/Native American and Indigenous issues, and celebrates the rich culture, history and political contributions of Native American peoples. Columbia also observes Indigenous Peoples Day in October, and the annual Powwow is hosted each spring by the Native American Council of Columbia University.

Bad Poetry Contest

Since 1986, Columbia’s Philolexian Society has hosted the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest. This annual event draws crowds of 200–300 participants vying for the title “Poet Laureate” of the Society. Members of the Columbia community are invited to present original works of ‘bad poetry’ before an audience of their peers and a panel of judges consisting of members of the Columbia faculty.

Friendsgiving at John Jay

Every year Columbia Dining hosts a "Friendsgiving" feast for students to celebrate and give thanks with their Columbia family before the holiday break. Thanksgiving-themed dinner is served at John Jay and Ferris Booth Commons dining halls, where the menu includes vegan, vegetarian, halal and kosher options, and students enjoy a festive photo booth amid the celebrations.

Tree Lighting and the Yule Log Ceremony

Just before finals week in early December, meet at the Sundial for hot chocolate and a cappella music before the countdown to the illumination of the trees along College Walk. Then enjoy one of Columbia’s oldest traditions, the lighting of the Yule Log. In a ceremony that predates the American Revolutionary War, a troop of students dressed as Continental Army soldiers carry the log from the Sundial to John Jay Hall lounge, where readings, songs and toasts celebrate the warmth and spirit of the season.

First Snow

At the first snowfall of each year, the students converge on Low Plaza for a friendly, free-for-all snowball fight under the watchful eye of Alma Mater.

Black History Month

Each February at Columbia, Black History Month celebrates the rich cultural, historical and political contributions of the Black Diaspora. Advised and overseen through Multicultural Affairs, the month’s events feature an opening reception, fashion show, semi-formal and talent showcase, as well as panel discussions, film screenings, art shows and more.

Glass House Rocks

Lerner Hall is one of the main hubs on campus and features a multistory floor-to-ceiling window design. On a special Thursday night in February, it transforms into the site of Glass House Rocks, a student-organized party attracting more than 2,000 students. There’s free food and drinks while dance and music groups perform on the building’s distinctive ramps. Past events have included improv sketches, laser tag and a red-carpet photo shoot.

Holi

Each spring, Columbia’s Hindu Students Organization (HSO) hosts a Holi celebration. Holi, also called the Festival of Colors, is a Hindu holiday marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring. People traditionally celebrate by throwing colored powder at each other. HSO brought 1,500 pounds of paint to the most recent festival in which students of all faiths participated.

Columbia Dining serves up lobster, steak and pints of ice cream during the annual Surf, Turf & Earth event to celebrate the start of spring weather.

Surf, Turf & Earth

As the school year winds down, Columbia Dining pulls out all the stops for the beloved Surf, Turf & Earth event, featuring lobster tails, steak and literal boatloads of shrimp. Students are advised to come hungry!

Asian Pacific American History Month

Asian Pacific American History Month is an annual celebration at Columbia University dedicated to promoting awareness of Asian Pacific American issues and history among the Columbia student body. Over the course of April, programming showcases the stories of Asian Pacific American artists, activists, professionals, scholars and more.

Bacchanal

A chance to blow off a little steam before spring finals, the annual day-long festival brings premier musical acts to campus. Past performances have featured AlunaGeorge, The Chainsmokers and Ty Dolla $ign, as well as Columbia alumni Vampire Weekend and Maude Latour.

Powwow

This annual event unites Indigenous communities and their friends and allies to celebrate and honor their identities through dance, song and socialization.

King's Crown Shakespeare Troupe

For 20+ years, the King's Crown Shakespeare Troupe has performed free, outdoor performances all around Columbia's Morningside Heights campus to celebrate the end of the spring semester.

Varsity Show

Since 1894, the Varsity Show has entertained students, faculty and administrators by bringing laughs to Morningside Heights in an annual satire on life at Columbia at the end of each year. The Varsity Show is an entirely student-run production and helped launch the creative genius of Rodgers and Hammerstein as well as Kate McKinnon, Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt.

Senior Design Expo

Columbia Engineering Senior Design Expo gives the school’s seniors a chance to showcase their capstone projects. Attendees learn about the mechanics, design and engineering behind a wide range of projects and prototypes from all nine departments. Past expos have included a mechanical device that mimics the movement of a human hand, a robotic air hockey player, a device that enhances hearing protection for soldiers and a model for a soccer stadium that can withstand gale force winds and earthquakes.

Class Days and Commencement

Class Day ceremonies are the school-specific celebrations of the accomplishments of graduating students each May. Students’ names are read as they proceed across the stage and receive their class pin. Student life, academic and alumni awards and prizes are conferred to students. 

Commencement is the University-wide event celebrating graduates of all Columbia schools and its affiliates. The ceremony begins with the academic procession and includes the awarding of honorary degrees, the President's address to graduates and the conferring of degrees en masse by school. Commencement has been held outdoors on campus since 1926, swathing Low Plaza in Columbia Blue each May.