Epic horse-drawn sleigh rides to Bedford, campus dances, student ski trips, varsity sport showdowns — members of the Dal community have marked Munro Day in many ways over the past century and a half.
And while these more ambitious, campus-wide events have become less common in recent decades as groups host their own localized gatherings, one element has remained the same: everyone gets the day off!
The timing of Dal's beloved mid-winter reprieve from classes and work has shifted over time, but now happens on the first Friday in February each year — this year on Feb. 6.
Who do Dalhousians have to thank for this one-of-a-kind perk?
Well, there's the man the holiday itself is named after. Nova Scotia-born George Munro became one of Dal's most generous benefactors during the 1870s and 1880s, donating large sums to the university as it struggled financially.
Munro, who built a successful career in publishing popular novels in the United States, had ties among the university's leadership at the time. He felt the pull to give back in his home province, ultimately helping Dal survive through a time when the possibility of the university closing for good was quite real.
Thanks should also be given to the students who petitioned the university's Board of Governors in the summer of 1881 to create an annual holiday to recognize Munro's immense donations — and so it has been ever since.
Happy Munro Day, everyone!