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What is Hooprolling? |
Hooprolling Story #1 |
Hooprolling Story #2 |
Hooprolling Photo Album |
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Hooprolling, 1913
The tradition of hooprolling began with an activity once held on May Day. May Day was a day of frivolity and of escaping from real-world worries into a world of child's play. Students celebrated by dressing up in children's clothing and playing games on Severance Green. One of the most popular was a race in which seniors, clad in graduation robes, rolled wooden hoops.
From its origin as a diversion on May Day, hooprolling has become a Wellesley institution in itself and is now held independently. In late May, seniors line up on Tupelo Lane and vie for the honor of winning the race and being thrown into Lake Waban. Originally proclaimed the first woman in her class who will marry, later the first to become a CEO, the hooprolling winner is now said to be the first person in her class who will achieve success, however she defines it.
Wendy Wellesley in all her Hooprolling glory |
from the May 3, 1940 Hagerstown, MD Mail:
"Like her mother, Martha Attridge won the annual Wellesley College hoop race
at Wellesley, Mass. Tradition has it that the winner will be the first bride
of the senior class, but the 1907 champion points out her marriage to the Rev.
Thomas W. Attridge was not the first of her class and 'I hope the tradition doesn't
work with my daughter.'"
Site originally
created by Chimi
Tornow '00 and Amy Gembala '00
Redesigned by Lily Han '06, June
12, 2003
Last Modified: June 3, 2004
