Traditions
Noted Traditions
Colors and Mascot
Official Colors
The official color of Smith College is white—hence the white dresses worn on Ivy Day and in the Alumnae Parade. Traditionally, white is trimmed with gold. In the 1970s, the athletic teams, who needed a dark color for their away uniforms, chose to compete in blue and white; and the college's official stationery carries the college logo in blue and yellow.
In addition, each class has its own color, and the colors repeat every four years. The class of ’24 is blue; ’25 yellow, ’26 red and ’27 green. This system began in the 1880s when all sports competitions were class-oriented and each class had team uniforms in its own color. The Ada Comstock Class uses a rainbow of colors.
Mascot
Smith's athletic teams have been known as the Pioneers since 1986. The name expresses the spirit of Smith's students and our leadership role in women's athletics (the first women's basketball game was played at Smith in 1893).
Ivy Day
Ivy Day has been a Smith tradition for more than a century. On the day before Commencement, alumnae escort the seniors, dressed in white and carrying roses, in a parade around campus. Then the seniors plant ivy to symbolize the connection between the college and its graduates.