Sororities and fraternities all have characteristics which make each organization unique and special to its members and within the community of Greek letter organizations. These characteristics include identifying insignia such as colors, mascots, flowers, and gems, but also include the organization's set of rituals, secrets, and philanthropic causes.
However, there are many traditions that span almost all Greek letter organizations and are enjoyed by Greeks on college campuses and in alumni organizations throughout the world. These traditions help members to celebrate the bond in which they share and to help better themselves and the community.
Sorority and Fraternity Recruitment
While the exact details of fraternity and sorority recruitment vary from campus to campus, all Greek letter organizations on all college campuses have some form of a formal recruitment process. During formal recruitment, men and women who are interested in joining a fraternity or sorority get to know each of the Greek chapters on campus while, by process of elimination on both sides, mutually select a chapter that they wish to join.
Formal recruitment ends with Bid Day, when bids, or invitations to join an organization, are given to those who have completed the formal recruitment process. Bid Day is a time when new and initiated members alike celebrate their organization and welcome new members into their bond.
Fraternity and Sorority Rituals and Initiation
Fraternity and sorority rituals are special closed ceremonies that mark special occasions in the lives of an organization's members, or mark the end of one phase of membership and the beginning of the next.
Fraternity and sorority rituals are secret and are only open to members of the organization. The details of an organization's ritual are not to be disclosed to non-members and ritual books are usually kept under lock and key to prevent the organization's cherished ceremonies from being viewed by those who are not members.
Fraternity and Sorority Big and Little Brothers and Sisters
Within each organization, pairs of big and little brothers or sisters form fraternity and sorority families.
The purpose of the big and little brother or sister pairs is to help members form special bonds within the organization and encourage and support one another to live up to the fraternity or sorority's ideals. However, relationships between big and little brothers and sisters is usually much stronger than that; big and little brothers and sisters often are lifelong friends who love and support each other unconditionally even after college graduation.
The name of a new member's big brother or sister is usually kept secret until an event called Big / Little Revealing, in which a new member is introduced to his or her big brother or sister. Each chapter of each organization has its own way of revealing big and little brothers and sisters, and after the revelation, new members are introduced to their fraternity or sorority families and have time to celebrate this milestone in fraternity and sorority life.
Greek Week
Greek Week is a time for members of fraternities and sororities to celebrate Greek unity and take time to celebrate what it means to be a Greek man or woman while spending time with friends in all Greek organizations.
Greek Week events vary from campus to campus, but usually include friendly competitive events such as sporting events or academic challenges, recognition receptions, and philanthropic events to raise money for an individual organization's philanthropy or for a philanthropic cause supported by all of a campus' Greek chapters. In addition, fraternity and sorority members may complete community service projects or attend special events to celebrate various aspects of Greek life.
Fraternity and Sorority Philanthropies and Community Service
Every Greek letter organization has at least one philanthropy, or cause or organization that it donates time, money, and resources as a form of support. Each year, fraternities and sororities raise millions of dollars through fundraisers and other events for an array of causes, ranging from diabetes to cardiac health to organ donation to organizations such as Children's Miracle Network and the Ronald McDonald House.
In addition, fraternity and sorority members perform thousands of community service hours each year, doing things such as cleaning up local parks, reading to children, visiting nursing homes, and working at animal shelters. While some campuses or chapters may have community service hours as an annual requirement for membership, many members participate in community service events in order to improve their communities or to contribute to a cause that they personally support.
There are many traditions that fraternity and sorority members of all organizations share. These traditions not only help to celebrate fraternity and sorority life, but also help connect current members to brothers and sisters of all chapters around the world.
Ashley Anderson - Ashley is an Ohio-based writer and editor with specializations in higher education, writing, and social activism.
