It is clear that spirit weeks are a big deal in the typical American high school. Whether you go all out or dress to the bare minimum, the student body truly shows out for spirit weeks! However, school spirit hasn’t always been what it is today.

The story begins at Palo Alto High School in 1927. Located in California, the public school had a very popular event known as the Girls’ Jinx, where women, and later men, would dress up and put on performances. 

Students looked forward to this event every year, and according to Ainsley Baven, an alumni, “Jinx was an incredible masterpiece that showcased student talents and encouraged school spirit.”

Unfortunately, the event was canceled in 1968 due to John Phillips, an English teacher, stepping down from his role as director of Jinx.

With the Jinx now gone, the student body made way for the first-ever “spirit week.”

As the week began approaching, class representatives prepared for a new competition focused on hall decorations. Each grade had a budget of $20 to create their displays, which included banners, balloons, and streamers to decorate the main halls — similar to how we decorate the doors of our advisory classrooms.

Fast forward to the year 1951, and “Friendship Week” was born. The ultimate goal in participating in the event was to become closer to their peers and to create a tighter-knit community.

Friendship Week was considered to be mostly a girl-only event until 1955, when junior boys dressed up as sophisticated gentlemen, sophomore boys dressed up as the gentlemen of tomorrow, senior girls dressed as old ladies, and freshmen girls dressed as little girls. This event has continued into today as Generations Day.

However, beginning in 1961, interest in school spirit began to decline at Palo Alto. The disengagement became so bad that at one point, the annual sophomore boys barbecue was canceled for “lack of interest.” 

Due to the lack of interest in dressing up for the themes, “Friendship Week” was replaced with a single dress-up day, and more of the student body began to get involved again, with other schools taking notice and taking their own spin on the event.

Fast forward to a Friday night at 7:30 PM in the year 1968. A large crowd has gathered in the fields near Stanford University for the annual Paly bonfire. This event was a central part of Spirit Week, although it was later discontinued due to safety concerns over fire hazards. Despite this, many traditions of Spirit Week have continued to thrive.

Skipping forward to 1978, and homecoming week for schools across the nation looks a lot like today’s, including an event that is similar to the pep rallies we have today. Crowds of students gather as classmates compete in tug-of-war, the dance team performs, and competitions are held for the best-dressed.

During the annual Homecoming football game, floats paraded through the campus as thousands gathered to watch the game. The senior class emerged victorious, and this event marked the establishment of what we now recognize as Spirit Week.

These Homecoming celebrations played a key role in the invention of “spirit weeks” as these events, which often focus on welcoming back alumni, already had a celebratory vibe. Schools recognized how these gatherings could unite people and foster a sense of community spirit. 

The goal was to harness that lively energy and extend it over an entire week, creating an ongoing atmosphere of excitement and engagement.

Spirit Week has evolved into a cherished tradition that offers much more than just fun. It provides students with a chance to cultivate a strong sense of belonging, escape their daily routines, and enjoy the collective excitement of being part of a vibrant school community.

Today, spirit weeks at LRHS look like themed dress-up days, decorating advisory doors in a competition, the pep rally, seniors making their custom Burger King crowns, people painting themselves entirely for the football games, and football game traditions such as the “sacrifice,” etc.

The history of Spirit Weeks at LRHS is a testament to the enduring spirit of community and creativity that has evolved over the decades, reminding us of the importance of camaraderie and the joy of being part of something larger than ourselves.