Once every spring, students at Haverford College wake up to find Founder’s Green covered in pinwheels, and immediately jump to celebrate one of their most anticipated—and mystery-shrouded—traditions: Pinwheel Day. As speculation about the date of this year’s festivity is spreading across the Bi-Co, we took some time to research the history of Haverford’s spring-time tradition.
Who started Pinwheel Day?
A 2020 Haverblog article revealed the answer: Mairead (Widby) Reinhard (Haverford ’01) started Pinwheel Day during her freshman year, in the spring of 1998. Inspired by a past story about pinwheels being seen on Founders Green, told to her by then Assistant Director of Admission Sarah (Ketchum) Baker, Reinhard wanted to do something that would be a lighthearted relief for students. It’s a fairly recent tradition—less than two decades old—but one that continues to bring joy each spring. Even Bryn Mawr students have been known to travel over to spend the day enjoying the sun and pinwheels.
Planned to take place during the first truly beautiful day of the season, one can expect to see students lounging on Founders Green with their friends. Most don’t attend class, and many mistakenly assume they’re canceled for the day. This year, the provost made a valiant attempt to get ahead of the absences, and asked professors to remind their students that Pinwheel Day doesn’t mean an opportunity to skip. It remains to be seen who will heed the reminder.
Some faculty, however, have been known to call class off in honor of Pinwheel Day, building it into their syllabi at the beginning of the semester. However, this can be difficult, as there isn’t one specific day set aside for the festivities. “It’s almost like getting a snow day in the spring, because you don’t know when it’s coming,” Haverford College Archivist and Records Manager Liz Jones-Minsinger said.
Who decides when it is?
When Reinhard graduated in 2001, she tracked down three juniors to continue the tradition. We can only assume that the secret was passed down, as every year without fail the pinwheels continue to appear on Founders Green. There are even supposed rumors of a secret committee behind Pinwheel Day, watching weather forecasts for the perfect time.
Though it’s never stated as an official celebration, word of mouth travels far, and students know to expect it each spring. “You know that this is an event that students do” Campbell Adams (HC ‘25). “Something Haverford has that’s special and fun.” Even in the midst of the pandemic, the tradition continued. Though typically student-led, in 2020 Haverford College took some initiative of their own, with a virtual Pinwheel Day page on their website. “[They] clearly identified it as a rite of spring on campus,” Jones-Minsinger added.
What happens when the pinwheels go missing?
In 2016, students woke up to learn that pinwheels had been placed on the lawn overnight, only to be gone the next morning. As was reported by the Haverford Clerk, unknown persons had stolen the jubilant decorations. Despite the unfortunate incident, it only served to remind the Haverford community what Pinwheel Day was all about: a day of relaxation and laughter spent with friends, enjoying the weather and signs of spring.
Continuing the Tradition
This year’s Pinwheel Day is rumored to occur in the next two days… keep your eyes peeled!
