Tulane traditions reflect the spirit of a university shaped by New Orleans. Students celebrate together through music, food, festivals, athletics and unmistakably local customs, from cheering on the Green Wave to dancing in a second line. Other traditions are woven into the campus itself, preserved in historic trees, works of art and landmarks that connect today’s Tulanians with generations who came before them.
Celebrations Inspired by New Orleans
Tulane students experience the traditions and culture of New Orleans throughout the year. During Carnival season, the city comes alive with parades, costumes, king cake and the purple, green and gold colors of Mardi Gras. The Tulane University Marching Band regularly joins the celebration, performing in Mardi Gras parades and bringing Green Wave spirit to the streets of New Orleans.
Spring brings some of Tulane’s largest campus events. Since 2007, Crawfest has filled the uptown campus with live music, local vendors and tons of crawfish. One of the largest student-run festivals in the country, Crawfest gives students hands-on experience producing a major food, music and arts event.
Tulane also hosts The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University, which brings authors, readers and ideas together for conversations, presentations, music and family programming. The festival reflects both Tulane’s intellectual community and New Orleans’ longstanding appreciation for storytelling, creativity and culture.
Green Wave Spirit
Tulane students and alumni come together to cheer for the Green Wave across 17 NCAA Division I sports. The name “Green Wave” traces back to the early 20th century, when the student newspaper began using the term to describe Tulane’s athletic teams. Over time, it replaced earlier nicknames such as the Olive and Blue and the Greenbacks.
Today, Green Wave spirit extends from varsity competition to club sports, intramurals and traditions shared in the stands. At games and university celebrations, Tulanians sing the fight song, recite the Hullabaloo cheer and show their pride in olive green and blue. Explore the words and history behind Tulane’s songs and cheers.
Tulane Celebrations
Tulane Commencement combines academic tradition with the music and energy of New Orleans. Live jazz, celebratory performances and a jubilant second line help make the ceremony a memorable conclusion to the Tulane experience.
In a traditional New Orleans second line, a band and those being honored lead the procession, while other participants follow behind, dancing to the music and joining the celebration. Decorated umbrellas or parasols are among the tradition’s most recognizable elements.
At Tulane, the umbrella tradition begins when new students receive plain umbrellas around the time of Convocation. Over the course of their Tulane experience, students personalize their umbrellas with colors, decorations, memories and mementos. At Commencement, graduates carry their completed umbrellas as they dance in the second line—transforming a simple white umbrella into a celebration of their individual journeys.
Landmarks and Legacies
Tulane's traditions are reflected not only in the experiences shared by generations of students, but also in the places that define the university. Across the uptown campus, historic landmarks offer a glimpse into Tulane's past while continuing to shape campus life today.
The oak trees lining Newcomb Quad were grown from acorns collected from the original Newcomb College campus nearly a century ago and continue to shade one of Tulane's most recognizable gathering places. Nearby, the Tulane Blarney Stone has been a campus tradition since the 1940s, when engineering students embraced it in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of the engineering profession. Tulane also preserves several remarkable stained-glass windows created by renowned artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. Commissioned by Newcomb College founder Josephine Louise Newcomb and her family in the late 1800s, the windows remain an enduring symbol of the university's artistic heritage and the legacy of Newcomb College.
Tulane's story extends beyond the uptown campus. Since the university was founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834, Tulane has played a central role in advancing health care, medical education and research in New Orleans. Today, the transformation of the historic Charity Hospital building into a new home for education, public health and research continues that legacy while honoring one of the city's most iconic landmarks.
Traditions That Continue to Grow
Tulane’s traditions have developed across generations, but they are not fixed in the past. Each class adds new experiences, memories and meaning to university life. Whether students are joining a second line, singing the fight song, enjoying Crawfest or gathering beneath the Newcomb Oaks, they become part of traditions that reflect both Tulane’s history and the distinctive character of New Orleans.
