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Xavier Traditions

178 Years, Countless Traditions

As a Son of Xavier, you become an integral part of a storied community of men and women for others. Whether boys walk onto 16th Street for the first or 500th time, they get closer to realizing Pedro Arrupe's vision of the true ideal of Jesuit education.

When he addressed the Tenth International Congress of Jesuit Alumni of Europe in Valencia, Spain, in July 1973, Fr. Arrupe emphasized that Jesuit education is meant to form “men for others...men who live not for themselves, but for God and his Christ...men completely convinced that love of God which does not issue in justice is a farce." Fifty years later, this concept still rings true for every Son of Xavier, whether it be in his actions, words, or the sacred traditions they celebrate each year.

If Xavier's historic hallways could talk, they would echo with memories fellow Sons made within them in decades past—and they probably wouldn’t sound too different than the stories of the present.

Annual Student Traditions

Maroon and Blue Day

Every fall, students, faculty, and staff kick off the school year with one of Xavier’s most beloved days on the school calendar—Maroon and Blue Day. The day sees 16th Street closed off to all traffic, and the school community enjoying indoor and outdoor games ranging from pie-eating contests to relay races to karaoke competitions. The school is split into two teams—maroon and blue—with both teams competing for a free dress down day later in the year. The day is a testament to the spirit of our community.

CFX Service and Immersion Trips

Every year, students and members of the faculty and staff are sent to people and places in need through Xavier’s Companions of Francis Xavier (CFX) programs. In the past, groups have ventured to Maryland, Tennessee, Mexico, Camden, among many more. On each service trip, students have been challenged to engage in simple living, prayer, and reflection, all with the goal of becoming more open to growth and inspired to make service for and with others part of their lives.

Retreats

Thanksgiving at Xavier & Young Alumni Luncheon

Thanksgiving at Xavier—one of the school’s longstanding traditions—gives students, faculty, staff, and alumni alike one of the fullest Xavier experiences possible. On this day, the community gathers for a celebratory Mass, homeroom parties, an alumni luncheon, and the classic Turkey Bowl Rally—an electrifying gathering to support the football team for their Thanksgiving football game, the Turkey Bowl, which pits the Xavier Knights against their rival, the Fordham Rams.

Christmas at Xavier

The holiday celebrations continue at Christmas at Xavier—a day the community gathers to participate in a beautiful Mass in The Church of Saint Francis Xavier, sing Christmas Carols, watch Christmas classics with their homerooms, and spread overwhelming Christmas cheer and excitement to one another through the halls. The day serves as a delightfully holly, jolly sendoff to students before their Christmas break.

Parades

The excitement only continues in yet another age old tradition—New York City’s Columbus Day Parade and Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. These days see members of the Xavier Regiment proudly march down 5th Avenue to represent Xavier to the community and to the city. Every year, without fail, students, parents, friends, and alumni come to the city in droves or excitedly watch on television to support those who march.

Father-Son Mass & Reception

Mother-Son Dinner

Commencement at St. Patrick's Cathedral

The culmination of four transformative years comes in what may be Xavier’s most extraordinary tradition—commencement at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. It is here where students are honored for their achievements over their four years on 16th Street, and where they transform into the men we promise they will become—men who will change the world for God’s greater glory.