Editing College of William & Mary (section)

===Traditions===
[[File:Crim Dell 2.jpg|thumb|[[Crim Dell bridge]] in the wooded center of campus]]
William & Mary has several traditions, including the Yule Log Ceremony, at which the president dresses as [[Santa Claus]] and reads a rendition of "[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas]]", the Vice-President of Student Affairs reads "Twas the Night Before Finals", and [[The Gentlemen of the College]] sing the song "[[The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)|The Twelve Days of Christmas]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_59339.asp |title=Holiday Traditions Fill The Season In Williamsburg |work=Chattanoogan.com |access-date=September 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214114143/http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_59339.asp |archive-date=February 14, 2009 }}</ref> Christmas is a grand celebration at the college; decorated Christmas trees abound on campus. This popular tradition started when German immigrant [[Charles Minnigerode]], a humanities professor at the college in 1842 who taught Latin and Greek, brought one of the first Christmas trees to America. Entering into the social life of post-colonial Virginia, Minnigerode introduced the German custom of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas at the home of law professor [[St. George Tucker]], thereby becoming another of many influences that prompted Americans to adopt the practice at about that time.<ref>[http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Minnigerode_Charles_1814-1894 Minnigerode, Charles (1814–1894)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801022323/http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Minnigerode_Charles_1814-1894 |date=August 1, 2016 }}. Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved on August 9, 2013.</ref>

Incoming first-year students participate in Opening Convocation, at which they pass through the entrance of the Wren Building and are officially welcomed as the newest members of the college. During orientation week, first-year students also have the opportunity to serenade the college president at his home with the [[Our Alma Mater|Alma Mater song]]. The Senior Walk is similar in that graduating seniors walk through the Wren Building during their "departure" from college. On the last day of classes, Seniors are invited to ring the bell in the cupola of the Wren Building.

W&M also takes pride in its connections to its colonial past during Charter Day festivities. Charter Day is technically February 8, based on the date (from the [[Julian Calendar]]) that the Reverend James Blair, first president of the college, received the charter from the Court of [[William III of England|William III]] and [[Mary II of England|Mary II]] at Kensington Palace in 1693. Past Charter Day speakers have included former US President [[John Tyler]], [[Henry Kissinger]], [[Margaret Thatcher]], and [[Robert Gates]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scrc-kb.libraries.wm.edu/charter-day-speakers |title=Charter Day Speakers |website=William & Mary Special Collections Research Center |date=January 20, 2015 |access-date=October 1, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001214944/https://scrc-kb.libraries.wm.edu/charter-day-speakers |archive-date=October 1, 2022 }}</ref>

Another underground tradition at W&M is known as the "Triathlon". As reported by ''[[The Flat Hat]]'', the tradition - normally performed before graduation - involves completing three activities:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The College's very own triathlon tradition {{!}} Flat Hat News|url=http://flathatnews.com/2008/08/22/colleges-very-own-triathlon-tradition/|last=Hat|first=The Flat|date=August 22, 2008 |language=en-US|access-date=May 28, 2020}}</ref> jumping the walls of the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg, streaking through the Sunken Garden, and finally swimming in the [[Crim Dell bridge|Crim Dell]]. The tradition has been referred to as an underground one and is not sanctioned by the college but is still widely practiced.<ref name=":0" />