Traditions

Although it has changed over time, the Class Day tradition is nearly as old as Meredith College. Held just before Commencement, Class Day is an opportunity for seniors to reminisce together about their Meredith journeys and for their sophomore little sisters to honor their graduating big sisters. As first planned by the Class of 1901, during the ceremony, the seniors present the class song, a class prophecy and will, and a class gift.

The daisy chain is a major part of the ceremony. In 1906, Sophomore class created the first ivy chain – which eventually, perhaps because ivy was difficult to find, evolved as a daisy and ivy chain. To this day, the sophomore class meets early in the morning to pick daisies and ivy vines to create the chain. The daisies and ivy are gathered from fields on the campus, at the homes of campus community members, or purchased. Then dressed in white, the little sisters carry in the chain into the amphitheater and form an aisle through which the seniors, also dressed in white, enter the ceremony. The 1947-48 Student Handbook reports that the juniors would decorate the posts for the daisy chains. At the end of the ceremony, the chains are used to form the Bigs' class numerals on the island in the amphitheater. (Before the amphitheater was built, they used the now-demolished front steps of Johnson Hall). After the class numerals are formed, the Big class tears apart the chain in celebration.

The Crook Hunt is another Meredith College tradition that has found itself part of Class Day. The Crook is carried into the festivities by the President of the Senior Class. If members of the Junior Class have discovered its hiding place during the week-long search, the Crook decorated with a black ribbon of mourning. If it was not found, it is decorated triumphantly with a ribbon of the Senior Class’s colors.  

In addition, the Class Dall is presented to the Alumni Association. The Class Doll will have been dressed, coifed, accessorized and named and will now join the previous generations of dolls displayed in Johnson Hall’s Margaret Bright Gallery.

Other Class Day traditions depend on the year of graduation, that is, whether a class is graduating as an “Even” or an “Odd.” If an “Odd Class,” members wear a black glove on their left hand and give their little sisters bone-shaped charms for luck. If an Even Class, the little sisters are presented with a bag of sticks and stones to protect them from the “Odd Spirit.” The class number also determines some of the songs that the sisters sing to one another. 

The ceremony is followed by a Class Day picnic in the courtyard between Johnson Hall and Belk Dining Hall.