Traditions

We Keep Traditions Alive!

• Cannon shot at Football Games – after every Lobo touchdown and when the team takes the field
• Carillon Bells – located in the Alumni Memorial Chapel, the bells chime on the hour and play tunes at noon and 5 p.m.
• Golden Graduates – the 50-year reunion class, recognized at Homecoming and Commencement
• Hanging of the Greens – a celebration held in early December when the campus is decorated with thousands of luminarias or farolitos.
• Homecoming – held each fall to welcome back alumni
• Homecoming King and Queen – the student body elects a king and queen and six attendants (three male and three female) to serve as the homecoming court. The first homecoming queen was crowned in 1935. The crowning of the king began in 1980.
• Lobo Day – a celebration for the founding date of the University, February 28, 1889.
• Lobo Head – extend the second and fifth fingers and touch the thumb to the third and fourth fingers, cheering, "Everyone's a Lobo! Woof! Woof! Woof!"
• Nizhoni Days – held in the spring, recognizing the Native American cultures
• Ring Ceremony – new graduates receive their UNM rings and dip their ringed hand into a vat of red dye (representing UNM Cherry).
• Stand and Clap at Basketball Games – fans stand and clap until each team makes its first basket.
• UNM Fiestas – an end-of-the-year celebration held in the spring, begun in 1948.

Times Have Changed . . .

• Class Memorials – it was customary for the graduating class to leave something behind on campus, e.g., the benches in front of Hodgin Hall.
• Electric U – a large illuminated "U" was placed atop Hodgin Hall in the 1920s and lighted when the Lobos were victorious.
• Freshmen Beanies – freshmen students had to wear a green beanie skullcap.
• Highland Line – streetcars originally made the trip up Railroad Avenue (now Central Avenue) to the University.
• House Decorating and Homecoming – the sororities and faternities and many campus organizations decorated their houses and dorms during homecoming, and townspeople turned out in droves to see them.
• Mirage Yearbook – school annual, ended in 1979. The name Mirage was adopted by the Alumni Association magazine in 1985.
• Okie Joe's – a popular campus watering hole located at University and Central.
• U Mountain – the small hill at the end of Copper Avenue in the Sandia Foothills used to display a large whitewashed "U".
• Victory Bell – the bell was brought to all football games and rung to encourage spirit.

More about Hanging of the Greens

On May 25, 1935, twenty-one UNM women chartered the Alpha Sigma chapter of the Sigma Alpha Iota music honorary.

In 1936, SAI held their first "Christmas Sing."

In 1947, Francine Neff ('48 BA) added the tradition of going up to the mountains to collect greenery to decorate the Student Union Ballroom (now Anthropology) and make a wreath to hang above the fireplace.

Later, the procession of students, staff, and faculty caroling across campus holding candles was added by the Sigma Alpha Iota and Dean Lena Clauve. The procession would form at the furthest house, Kappa Alpha, and sing holiday carols as they made their way past the dormitories to the President's House and finally to the SUB. The director of the SUB, Mrs. Thompson, would serve popcorn, candy, and coffee while students continued caroling.

Some years, Santa Claus would also serve refreshments. Sherman Smith, Vice President for Administration and Development (for whom Smith Plaza is named) would sing White Christmas. A recording of this song is immortalized on a record that was included in the 1958-59 Mirage yearbook.