Rich in history, Queen’s continues to embody strong Scottish and Irish traditions through staff and student initiatives university-wide. The Gael is a strong symbol at Queen’s prominent in athletic endeavours as students (Gaels) foster a sense of friendly competition and cooperation to bring pride to the university. Queen’s; fight song - The Oil Thigh is commonly performed at sports games with the crowd chanting Gaelic lyrics and performing a group dance. The full lyrics can be found below!
Oil Thigh and Queen’s College Colours Lyrics
Queen's College colours we are wearing once again,
Soiled as they are by the battle and the rain,
Yet another victory to wipe away the stain!
So, Gaels, go in and win!
Chorus:
Oil thigh na Banrighinn a'Banrighinn gu brath!
Oil thigh na Banrighinn a'Banrighinn gu brath!
Oil thigh na Banrighinn a'Banrighinn gu brath!
Cha-gheill! Cha-gheill! Cha-gheill!
Varsity's not invincible, they tremble at the news
Of Queen's College Colours and are shaking in their shoes.
Yet another victory, the chance we dare not lose.
So, Gaels, go in and win!
Chorus: Oil thigh, na Banrighinn...
McGill has met defeat before, they've heard the same old tale
Of Queen's College colours, boys, the ones that seldom fail,
Remember Captain Curtis and the conquerors of Yale,
So, Gaels, go in and win!
Chorus: Oil thigh, na Banrighinn...
Western's White and Purple have come down to Queen's to score,
We sent them back to London as they'd ne'er been sent before.
And Queen's again were victors as they were in days of yore,
So, Gaels, go in and win!
There may be other colours to the breezes oft unfurled,
And many another college yell by student voices hurled;
Queen's College colours are the dearest in the world,
So, Gaels, go in and win!
You’ll also see Queen’s Leather Jackets worn by students from all faculties around campus. Each faculty receives their own colour to distinguish themselves from each other with the Engineers wearing their jackets (also known as GPA’s) most commonly! After their first set of exams, first year engineering students carry on the tradition and slamming their jackets around the ground and going through a series of tasks designated by upper years (Frecs) before having the chance to celebrate their triumph and dye their jackets (and selves) purple.
Queen's Medicine has our own leather jackets that are available for purchase in the fall of each year.
Undergraduate students also receive Tams, traditional hats with a pom pom unique to their faculty, at the beginning of their studies as a reminder of the university's history and their role to play in contributing to the Queen’s community. Any first year students caught wearing their Tam above their ears will have their pom pom snipped off by an upper year! School of Medicine Tam’s are available for purchase at the Campus Bookstore.
QMed has its own traditions, such as Medical Variety Night (a for-charity talent show across all 4 years inviting students and docs to showcase their special talent and skills), the Interview Video produced by each class in their first year, the student mentorship program, class ski trips, and more! As the year goes on, you'll certainly see these traditions come up and have the chance to get involved.