![Students enjoying Pangy Day](/sites/default/files/styles/500x335/public/2022-01/pangy-day-student-group.png?h=dde7114f&itok=A2qehGll)
Pangy Day
Q. What causes the campus to erupt in a flurry of festivity, energy and enthusiasm after a New England winter?
A. Pangynaskeia Day, or Pangy Day for short
A springtime tradition at Mount Holyoke for more than 20 years, Pangy day is filled with food, fun and festivities and is often referred to as 鈥渢he best day ever at MHC鈥.
Wait, how do you pronounce it?
A little something like this: 鈥減awn goon ah SKAY ah.鈥 (With a little practice, it really rolls off the tongue.)
What is Pangy Day all about?
The story behind Pangynaskeia Day, which is held on the last Friday of classes in the spring semester, is nearly as long as its name. It is a celebration of the "world of women," and the Mount Holyoke community comes out in force to celebrate.
Pangy Day is about celebrating spring
You know you鈥檙e a Mount Holyoke student when, as the spring semester nears to a close and final exams loom, you start getting excited for Pangy Day. By putting it on your calendar. Mentioning it on social media. Digging out a favorite lawn blanket or chair.
The Pangy Day experience
Pangy Day includes an all-College picnic on Pageant Green, below Gettell Amphitheater, where food and flowers are shared. From the picnic students head up to Skinner Green where they find a ritual maypole and spiral dance with colorful ribbons waiting to be braided. There鈥檚 music, games, face-painting and ice cream. There鈥檚 merriment and spreading of blankets for sitting and chatting and kicking back. There鈥檚 Frisbee-throwing and a sea of daisies. It鈥檚 part Earth Day, part May Day, part spring-fever-inspired fun.
![Students participating in the Maypole on Pangy Dat](/sites/default/files/styles/360x360/public/2022-01/pangy-day-maypole-wings.jpg?h=6f3285a6&itok=uN-eddKU)
![Students blowing bubbles on Pangy Day](/sites/default/files/styles/360x360/public/2022-01/pangy-day-bubbles.jpg?h=10d202d3&itok=8NVy40um)
![Students having fun with a colorful parachute on Pangy Day](/sites/default/files/styles/360x360/public/2021-11/pangy-day-parachute.png?h=e0d97e2f&itok=WYeTt98C)
![A student wearing a flower crown on Pangy Day](/sites/default/files/styles/360x360/public/2022-01/pangy-day-flower-crown.jpg?h=9931de99&itok=qBO-jc2u)
![Students playing cards on Skinner Green during Pangy Day](/sites/default/files/styles/360x360/public/2022-01/pangy-day-cards.jpg?h=6f3285a6&itok=YbYdfTWI)
![Students participating in the Maypole on Pangy Dat](/sites/default/files/styles/1024x800/public/2022-01/pangy-day-maypole-wings.jpg?h=6f3285a6&itok=kUgdIflp)
![Students blowing bubbles on Pangy Day](/sites/default/files/styles/1024x800/public/2022-01/pangy-day-bubbles.jpg?h=10d202d3&itok=jpJails1)
![Students having fun with a colorful parachute on Pangy Day](/sites/default/files/styles/1024x800/public/2021-11/pangy-day-parachute.png?h=e0d97e2f&itok=7q44iLJn)
![A student wearing a flower crown on Pangy Day](/sites/default/files/styles/1024x800/public/2022-01/pangy-day-flower-crown.jpg?h=9931de99&itok=_vm0Qa8F)
![Students playing cards on Skinner Green during Pangy Day](/sites/default/files/styles/1024x800/public/2022-01/pangy-day-cards.jpg?h=6f3285a6&itok=byeUDGjB)