Every family has its own traditions, but there is nothing like the traditions of the Penn State family.

From Homecoming festivities to Mt. Nittany, these traditions help shape Penn State into what it is today.

Nothing can start the school year off better than Penn State football. Football is a major part of the weekends in the
fall. Thousands come from all over to watch the sport.

To celebrate a victory
or to mourn a loss, tailgating brings
new and old members of the Penn
State family together on home-game Saturdays.

"Tailgating is such a big event year after year," said Matthew McDonald, assistant director of marketing and communications with Penn State's Alumni Association. "It is a tradition of its own."

Homecoming has a lot of traditions involved with it. Starting Friday evening of Homecoming weekend, there is the Homecoming parade. It starts on Shortlidge Road and makes its way down College Avenue.

"It is open to all students and organizations on campus," McDonald said.

"There is also a large percentage of the Greek community that is involved."

Immediately following the parade, there is the traditional Guard of the Lion Shrine.

This event is sponsored by the Lion Ambassadors and is open to any member of the public.

"This became a tradition because years ago on Friday night of Homecoming weekend," McDonald said.

Since Syracuse used permanent orange paint on the Nittany Lion shrine, the Army ROTC stands guard from 12 to 24 hours to make sure the opposing team doesn't come near the lion shrine, Major Maureen Weigl said.

"We stand guard at the Lion shrine the whole week before homecoming from 7 p.m. to midnight to make sure nothing happens to the lion," said Matthew Ward (senior-psychology), a member of the Army ROTC. "Since we have been standing guard, nothing has happened to the lion shrine."

Another tradition, the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (Thon) lasts 48 hours without sitting or sleeping.

It is a fund-raiser that anyone can become involved with. All funds are given to The Four Diamonds Fund, which benefits children with cancer.

"We work very closely with families," said Adam Duff, overall chairperson for Thon 2004. "Along with financial support, we also provide families with one-on-one support."

The annual Blue and White weekend in the spring semester is a chance for alumni, fans and students to come together and get a head start on tailgating and a look at what Penn State football has to offer in the fall.

"It is a very popular weekend where alumni and fans come into town," McDonald said. "The whole weekend itself is a tradition."

Traditions come and go and are carried out in different ways throughout the years, but there are some things at Penn State that will never change.

Mt. Nittany is one of Penn State's landmarks.

"No matter when you come to
Penn State, it is always here," McDonald said.

Sports teams and other organizations use it as conditioning or as a part of
a class, but it has always been a tradi-
tion that before you graduate, you
have to climb Mt. Nittany, he said.

Besides the Nittany Lion shrine, Old Main's bell tower is also a landmark on campus.

"The bell tower is the most recog-
nizable piece of Old Main," McDonald said.

The tower used to bed a bell that was used in the tower, but in 1937, it was changed to recorded chimes.

The trademark Penn State blue and white is another important Penn State tradition.

All over campus, there are students wearing the colors. But before March 1890, the colors were pink and black. In October 1887, a committee made up of sophomores, juniors and seniors, decided on pink and black.

The myth is that pink faded to white and black and white was too boring.

"This is when black was changed to navy blue," McDonald said.

Traditions such as these are what make Penn State the school it is today and it is up to the new members of the Penn State family to keep them going.