Wimbledon: You know the tennis 🎾, but what about the traditions? 🍓
Wimbledon’s got tennis — and a ton of wild traditions since 1877. Here’s what makes it iconic 👑
🪽 All white or nothing
Wimbledon’s dress code is no joke. Since 1890, players have been required to wear “almost entirely white” — and we mean entirely. No off-white, no cream, not even flashy soles on your shoes (ask Federer 😅). Even headbands, socks, and medical tape must follow the white-out rule. Andre Agassi hated it so much, he skipped the tournament for three years.
🍓 Strawberries & cream > Everything
It’s not Wimbledon without a bowl of strawberries and cream. This iconic snack has been served since 1877 and traces back to King Henry VIII’s era. Today, fans devour 140,000 servings during the tournament. That’s 28,000 kg of strawberries and 7,000 litres of cream — sweet, right?
⛺ Queue culture is a vibe
Forget VIP passes. At Wimbledon, the real tradition is “The Queue”. Fans line up (or camp out!) for hours — sometimes overnight — to score day-of tickets. It’s super British, super polite, and super serious. There’s even a code of conduct for queuing. Respect the queue, or miss the match.
🦅 Meet Rufus, the pigeon patrol
Wimbledon has a hawk named Rufus who guards the courts — no, really. His job is to keep pigeons and pesky birds away. He’s been working since 2008, has his own security pass, and even went missing once (don’t worry, he came back). Rufus is basically a feathery legend.
👎 No ads, no problem
Unlike other tournaments, you won’t see sponsor logos splashed across Wimbledon’s courts. The Club keeps the grounds ad-free to preserve the vibe. That’s why the event feels so premium — brands want in, but Wimbledon plays hard to get. And yeah, ambush marketers? Not welcome.