Homecoming week is officially coming to a close, folks.

Since a group of Syracuse fans vandalized the Lion Shrine, the Guard the Lion Shrine event has been a tradition since Penn State’s Homecoming Week.

The orange paint prank was originally the idea of Joe Paterno’s wife, Sue. When student spirit was at one of the lowest, she believed it would rally the students together. One night, Paterno and a two of the other coaches’ wives painted the Nittany Lion Shrine in orange paint, the colors of Penn State’s then rival Syracuse, and quietly left the scene.

In this scenario, the paint was easily removed. However, later in the week, during the early hours of the morning, Syracuse students completely covered the Lion in orange paint and were arrested.

Since then, Penn State students have guarded the shrine from future attack, and the endeavor has turned into an annual celebration held by the Lion  Ambassadors during Homecoming.

The ROTC students stood around the shrine, symbolically guarding it from other attacks.

The festivities also had food and goodies, from cotton candy and ice cream to fries and funnel cake.

There were also performances by multiple student groups including Singing Lions, Volé, Rince de Leon, and the Blue Band drumline.

Paterno then came out and told the story on how she and some of the other coaches’ wives painted the lion. To end it all off, everyone sang Sweet Caroline together.

To another year the lion shrine is safe from attack.