Buzz
Spring marks a time of renewal with nature blossoming, the weather warming up, and a week (or two) set aside for people to enjoy this change—something many college students look forward to each mid-March as part of the Spring Break tradition. Thanks to MTV, we all associate this time with bikinis, wild parties, lots of alcohol, and students taking over beaches to bask in the sun and let loose. But how did this entire tradition get started?
Since ancient times, humans have welcomed the arrival of Spring—including the ancient Greeks and Romans, who were no strangers to indulgence. Their celebrations often revolved around honoring Dionysus or Bacchus, the Greek and Roman gods of wine. However, the modern idea of Spring Break truly began with two key moments: the creation of Florida’s first Olympic-size pool in Fort Lauderdale in 1928, and the release of MGM's movie *Where The Boys Are* in 1960.
Fort Lauderdale’s Olympic-sized pool, an impressive feat at the time, attracted top swimmers from across the country during their academic breaks. By the late '30s, over 1,500 student-athletes were descending on the city for the College Coaches' Swim Forum. The first forum took place in 1938, and by the 1960s, Fort Lauderdale had become the go-to Spring Break destination for swimmers. As this tradition grew, non-athletes joined in the fun, and *Time* magazine covered it in a 1959 article titled 'Beer & the Beach,' marking the moment when this wild celebration reached the mainstream.
A year later, MGM released *Where The Boys Are*, a coming-of-age film that followed four college women on their spring vacation. And as is often the case in a postmodern society, art mirrored life. Spring Break became an event that any college student, male or female, could take part in to escape to the sun and surf. In 1986, MTV aired its first Spring Break special in Daytona Beach, Florida, and established an annual tradition showcasing what truly happens during this mid-semester break.
By the late '80s, the city that had originally made Spring Break famous—evidenced by the 370,000 students who flocked there in 1985—decided it had had enough of the wild and rowdy guests it had hosted for years. The city imposed stricter public drinking regulations, and Mayor Robert Dressler appeared on *Good Morning America* to declare that Spring Breakers were no longer welcome. By then, however, other cities had already stepped up, hosting their own annual parties and ensuring that Spring Break remains a tradition that shows no signs of fading.
