Thursday morning, Harvard Yard came to life with animal costumes, vibrant posters, and a cacophony of chanting from students representing each of the College’s 12 Houses for Housing Day – an annual tradition where upperclassmen welcome freshmen into their assigned Houses. Freshmen are randomly sorted and receive their assignments when enthusiastic upperclassmen burst into their dorms with House gear, signs, and lots of excitement.

By Stella A. Gilbert

The day begins bright and early, as upperclassmen gather in their respective houses to prepare for one of Harvard’s most iconic traditions. Decked out in house gear, they prepare to welcome the newest members of their homes. Lowell House Faculty Dean David I. Laibson gets in on the fun, jumping in the air with excitement for the day’s events.

By Assma Alrefai

As the morning unfolds, students make their way from their houses through Harvard Square and toward Harvard Yard – the home of all freshmen students.

By Mae T. Weir

Students from Adams House and Dunster House rush into the Yard, converging at the John Harvard Statue. This area becomes a central location for multiple houses to congregate as they await the release of the official letters assigning each freshman to their new home for the next three years.

By Stella A. Gilbert

The Dunster moose and the Eliot mastodon cross paths, acting as a fun reminder of the unique mascots and friendly rivalries that define each of the houses.

By Assma Alrefai and Mae T. Weir

The Pforzheimer polar bear and Cabot fish also appear in the Yard. These houses, along with Currier, are known collectively as “the Quad” and are located farther from the Charles River and the nine other houses.

By Assma Alrefai

Freshmen students can be seen looking out their dorm windows, capturing the anticipation leading up to the delivery of housing assignments as they observe the growing crowd in the Yard.

By Assma Alrefai and Mae T. Weir

Students from Leverett and Quincy can be seen generating enthusiasm for their houses by climbing on shoulders or elevated structures to stand above the crowds.

By Mae T. Weir

Winthrop House students hold up signs created on the eve of Housing Day, a tradition where students design posters within their houses to welcome new members.

By Mae T. Weir

Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana is pictured in the Yard, taking part in the celebration and engaging with students.

By Mae T. Weir

At 8:30 a.m., the official letters assigning each blocking group – groups of freshmen students who request to be placed in the same house – are released. Upperclassmen then storm these groups’ dorms, entering their rooms to announce their housing placements.

By Mae T. Weir

Once everyone has been sorted into one of the 12 houses, the Yard erupts in celebration as new housemates gather, cheer, and officially meet their “families” for the next three years.