Pink Tie Friday a Cherished Upper School Tradition

Some traditions, such as the Moving-Up Ceremonies and Spirit Week, are built into the school calendar and organized schoolwide. Others are created with the intention of establishing a new tradition. But other equally meaningful traditions are more subtle, their origins unknown.

Pink Tie Friday is one such tradition. You won’t find it on the calendar or in the Upper School Handbook. It’s not part of Severn’s uniform requirement. It’s not even written down anywhere. And yet, when Friday comes around, pink ties are the norm in the Upper School.

While the exact origin of this tradition cannot be confirmed, the present-day shared “why” of the pink tie tradition is for general breast cancer awareness. Part of what makes Pink Tie Friday so special is its grassroots nature. It didn’t originate from an administrative directive or a formal campaign. It is rooted in kindness and service, and for nearly two decades, this symbol of solidarity and support for those affected by breast cancer has been woven into the fabric of Severn’s culture.

How do tie-wearing students know to wear pink on Fridays? Because upperclassmen socialize this to new students early and often, announcing it at Morning Meeting early in the school year and getting the word out through Advisories.

I told my advisory on the day we met to get a pink tie," said former Senior Prefect Jack Read ’24. From day one, we explain this tradition and why we do it. I would also text everyone first thing Friday morning with a reminder.”

Pink Tie Friday dates back to at least 2005 and Mr. Eric Witzel, Upper School Science Teacher, has the tie to prove it. That was the year that Severn senior Courtney Dunn ’06 made custom pink ties for her classmates and teachers – a tie that Mr. Witzel still wears to this day.

Severn is a sharing community, and Pink Tie Friday is just one more example of that," said Nicholas Hanson ’24. "When everybody does it, and it's ingrained into the day-to-day, it gives it a larger purpose. It might seem like a small thing, but seeing it week after week, it feels like there’s a bigger impact."

To learn more about the many traditions at Severn School, click here.