Wellesley Celebrates Flower Sunday

Shannon O’Brien
September 20, 2021

On September 19, students gathered in the Hay Outdoor Theater for Flower Sunday—the oldest tradition at Wellesley. Hosted by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, the first-year “littles” are paired with “bigs” from the older classes, who bring them bouquets of flowers or small gifts. Then they attend Flower Sunday festivities together, which include performances by the Wellesley choir, speakers, and a blessing. The event is followed by brunch, where bigs and littles have the opportunity to get to know each other more

people picking up colorful flowers
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life provided flowers for students to take before walking to Hay Outdoor Theater.
President Paula A. Johnson joined the tradition in handing out flowers. She and Dean Sheilah Horton gave a reading during the festivities.
Students who attended Flower Sunday festivities heard performances by the Wellesley Choir, listened to student speeches by Anisha Rao ’23, Aisling Novick ’23 and Sarwa Shah ’24, and received a blessing from Chaplains Dena Bodian, Amira Quraishi and Sarah Robbins-Cole.
After the event, before getting brunch, bigs and littles gathered for photos.
The Wellesley Choir performed “Come, Come Whoever You Are,” “Down to the River to Pray,” “True Colors,” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” during Flower Sunday.
Several students marked the occasion by walking to Lake Waban and taking photos.