Student traditions and sense of identity

The École normale supérieure de Paris, also called Normale Sup’, ENS or simply Ulm – as for them, alumni say “l’École” – has a multitude of traditions and a strong sense of identity, with its own customs, traditional events, specific places and even its own argot.

All these customs, events, places and argot have been constructed over the years, from the foundation of this institution in 1794 to nowadays, and are transmitted among the normaliens from generation to generation. The traditions and sense of identity are a real legacy and federate the students of the École normale supérieure into a fully-fledged community.