By Julia Smith, Staff Writer
On February 28, Lantern Night was held at Bryn Mawr. Students donned their traditional black robes and weathered the 32 degree night in order to bestow the light of knowledge upon the newest members of the community. The Class of 2024’s college experience has been a far cry from their pre-pandemic expectations. Bryn Mawr first-years have never experienced campus life without COVID-19 restrictions, only knowing modified forms of the community’s beloved traditions. In addition to the pandemic, adjustments to the traditions have also resulted from the student population’s desires for a more inclusive experience. Namely, moving Lantern Night to Merion Green, away from the Cloisters of Old Library—a space with connections to M. Carey Thomas, who worked to prevent Black and Jewish students and professors from being a part of the Bryn Mawr community.
I interviewed Ava Blumer ‘24 about her experience with traditions during the pandemic. Expressing a mix of disappointment and gratitude, she told me, “As a first-year I feel like it has been a little disappointing to not have the full experience of having the traditions as they usually would be, but at the same time at this point I am just thankful for anything… it’s just good to have them at least.” Blumer spoke of how she greatly enjoyed Lantern Night, believing that most of the pandemic related limitations were worked out after Parade Night. She holds high hopes for the execution of WTF Week and May Day. “I think they are learning how to do it as best they can and how to make it (the traditions) feel practically normal, or as normal as it can be.”
The limitations that must now be put in place to make celebrations safe also have caused disappointment for the Class of 2021. Mawrtyr-seniors had expectations for what their final round of traditions would look like, and they are now forced to accept modified versions of events they’d previously experienced in full. Calumina McConducie ‘21 expressed that she was, “just glad that the traditions are happening… but that being said, they are not the same as other years.” She admitted that she felt the restraints on traditions most strongly when Parade Night had to occur indoors. Yet she expressed satisfaction with how Lantern Night was executed this year, saying that since ceremony is always outside, the difference was not as greatly felt.
As “WTF Week” approaches, McCondocie says that her initial worries have been dismissed. She stated that the Traditions Mistresses are once again doing a great job at finding ways to celebrate. The senior continued to speak on the upcoming traditions:
“A lot of the traditions so far have been the first-year centered traditions… for WTF week, it is definitely also about the first-years, but there are some senior aspects of it as well, and those are happening! It is going to be a little bit of a different feel… but I think they [the Traditions Team] are doing as much as they can. I am definitely interested in seeing what they do for May Day… It is an outdoor tradition, and it is also the really senior focused tradition… I have a lot of hope for how it’s going to be.”
Throughout the student body, there seems to be a consensus that despite COVID-19 greatly affecting the ability to hold college-wide events as usual, the Traditions Team is doing everything they can to make these celebrations as special as possible. Bryn Mawr has proved itself to be a community that can cultivate moments of joy in times of struggle. Despite the hardships of the pandemic, traditions continue to be a valued and enduring pillar of Bryn Mawr.
Image credit: Bryn Mawr College Lantern Van
