Harvard students blew off pre-finals steam by running naked around the Yard last night
Tradition called.
Twice a year, large groups of students gather in the Harvard Yard to decompress from studying for finals. The catch? They’re naked and yelling.
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The biannual tradition, called “Primal Scream,’’ sees students taking a naked, screaming lap around the Yard when the clock strikes midnight on December 11.
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Primal Scream dates back to the 1960s. Originally, frustrated students yelled from their dorm-room windows—it wasn’t until the ‘90s that the clothing-optional lap around the Yard became central to the ritual, according to The Harvard Crimson.
Some participants wear little-to-no clothing, while others run fully clothed. Accessories such as capes and flags are welcome.
New England winters don’t stop students from adhering to tradition. This year, Mother Nature was kind to “screamers’’—temperatures were mild. In the past, it’s been well below freezing.
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The Harvard Band is a part of the event, too, and plays on the sidelines. The soundtrack varies year to year.
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Here’s to being wild and free:
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