There was a time at Stanford when corduroys were restricted to seniors; students from different graduating classes were distinguished by the kind of hat they wore; freshmen were dunked in tubs in Encina Hall — then an all-male dorm — and students soaked up the sun on Lake Lagunita. While these customs are long gone, Stanford is still rich in offbeat traditions, from the Band run in September to Wacky Walk at Commencement.

All year long, Stanford students can participate in a range of activities that will give them a sense of home, camaraderie and what exactly it means to be a Stanford student. Here is a guide for incoming students to learn the campus lingo, understand the history of the Cal rivalry and discover a hidden place to make out.

September / October / November

Full Moon on the Quad

Under the light of the first full moon of the quarter, freshmen boys become men and freshmen girls become women with the kiss of a senior, according to legend. Full Moon on the Quad is also a favorite event for non-seniors to pucker up with a generous crowd. Originally, the tradition was for couples to congregate in the Quad to share a kiss under the moonlight.

Band Run

Meet the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band on a run through campus. With the tree in tow, the run culminates in the Quad.

Flicks

Procrastinate on Sunday nights in Memorial Auditorium at Flicks. Weekly movies are screened at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., open to undergraduate and graduate students. Flicks is not just a movie — it’s a paper fight too.

San Francisco scavenger hunt

Get to know your dorm mates during a hunt in the big city. From Big Al’s sex shop to the tattoo parlor, the team that executes the most outrageous assignments (wearing the fewest pieces of clothing) is the winner.

Stanfor-dictionary

Learn what CoHo, FloMo, ProFro, MemChu and FroSoCo mean. Or eschew them.

Big Game, Dec. 2

This battle of brawn is fought on the football field on Dec 2 between two schools whose students are more renowned for their brains. The yearly rivalry began in 1892 when the older University of California challenged fledgling Stanford to a friendly match. The inexperienced Stanford boys had no equipment, no coach, no uniforms and no playing field. But on March 19, on the Haight Street field in San Francisco, Stanford upset favored Cal in a 14-10 game. This year the two meet at Berkeley for their 109th match-up.

Pre-Big Game pump-ups: Rally, Countdown and Red Hot Prof competition

In April 1899, during a pre-game bonfire rally, the yell leader introduced a real axe into his “Give ‘em the axe” chant, directed toward Cal. The axe was used to decapitate a straw effigy dressed in Cal’s colors, gold and blue. After Stanford’s loss, Cal students nabbed the axe and held it captive until 1930, when Stanford students recovered it in a daring heist. The rescuers were immortalized as the Stanford 21.

Today, the Axe Committee protects the battle weapon and pumps up the spirit of the student body. Camping out in White Plaza before the two teams crash helmets, the committee marks each hour leading to the game with the sounding of a train whistle.

Gaieties

Big Game season is not complete without Gaieties — a student-written, -produced and -directed musical performed in preparation for Stanford’s match against Cal. Special performances by President John Hennessy and other members of the administration are coupled with shots at Cal. Dorms often reserve group seats in Memorial Auditorium to witness a show where anything goes.

Sixth Man Club

As football season comes to a close, basketball

begins in a newly renovated Maples Pavilion. Sit in the student section and cheer Stanford to victory. Who knows, maybe Tiger Woods will show up at a game again this year.

December

Secret Snowflake

In the spirit of the holiday season, dorm mates are secretly paired to devise embarrassing antics for their partner to perform in front of their housemates.

Primal Scream

At midnight each night during Dead Week, students yell at the top of their lungs from their windows to relieve their end-of-quarter stress and anguish.

January

Dorm ski trips

Hit the slopes or play poker in the cabin during

dorm ski trips to Tahoe and other nearby snow-bunny hot spots.

Library Check-out

Hook up in Green Library’s South Stacks, amidst rows of dusty books. Hey, at least there’s no roommate.

February

Screw Your Roommate

An opportune time to get set up with that hot chick you have had your eye on in I-Hum or that guy in the dorm next door. The perfect blind date dance — set up your roommate with a date, and your roommate sets you up.

Parents’ Weekend

Parents invade campus for “back to school” lectures, Q&A with Hennessy, special performances by campus groups and, of course, quality time on campus with you.

Viennese Ball

The Viennese Ball Committee hosts the event so you can show off your twinkle toes. Make sure you are dressed appropriately — gowns and tuxedos are the norm. The group normally charges students to attend the event, but this policy created a stir on campus last year. Some argued that the committee could not charge students since it already received ASSU Special Fees.

March

Midnight Breakfast

Students take a break during paper-writing season for a midnight meal, served by the University president and other administrators. It is an annual event for students, staff, and faculty to bond over bagels.

April

Fountain-hopping

Jump into a fountain to cool off on a hot day. Feel like a bubble bath? Take some laundry detergent by the fountain in front of Green library.

Frisbee Golf

Run around campus throwing Frisbees at designated landmarks. Nighttime preferable.

The Game

A 24-hour hunt where students decode elaborate clues that lead to a final destination. First to solve all the clues is the winner.

May

Assassins

Water gun in hand, perform covert missions to tag dorm mates. Last one who has not been soaked is the winner. Competition to be the Tree.

Adopted as a spoof on mascot selection processes at other universities, the competition to become the Tree was created by members of the Band in 1973. The Tree accompanies the Band at athletic events and can also be seen at on-campus rallies.

Tree hopefuls execute outrageous stunts (such as scaling Hoover Tower) to win the honored position. The Tree, however, is not the official symbol of the University — that would be Cardinal, the color. In 1930, the University adopted the Indians as an additional mascot.

Due to concern that the mascot presented a racist stereotype of Native Americans, in 1972 the ASSU voted to discontinue the Indians. Stanford students then picked Robber Barons as the mascot, but the Athletic Department ignored their wishes and decided to stick with simply the Cardinal.

Pledge Parties

New pledge classes throw elaborate bashes to out-do their fellow fraternities.

Exotic Erotic

No entrance with more than two pieces of clothing. This party was once rated by Playboy magazine as one of the wildest on any college campus.

Admit Weekend

Be a RoHo or a HoHo and hang out with a ProFro.

Boat Dance

Dorms rent a floating vessel and hit the deck to conclude freshmen dorm bonding.

June

Wacky Walk at Commencement

Only Grad students walk in straight lines. Undergrads must pour into the stadium unorganized, chaotic and dressed down, often with only cap and gown and nothing underneath.

Steam tunneling

Explore Stanford’s underground tunnels, but watch out for rats and asbestos. Also, be sure not to get locked in, as that would lower your chances of returning for sophomore year.