One of the sisters in my alumnae association shared a little bit about her initiation (at another campus) that might be similar to yours, and it was wild.

I will say this about my Alpha Xi initiation - I was blown away. I thought it might be because it was so long coming for me, but then again, I don't see how it could be any less beautiful or meaningful to anyone experiencing it. There's a phrase that I've heard a lot - and many sororities have used it - that their sorority isn't something they "joined," but rather, something that they have always been. THAT is how I felt at initiation.

I know what you mean; I'd love to see how other chapters do their initiations. Actually, I'd REALLY love to attend the initiation they do at Convention every other year. Since it's the National Council that does it, you KNOW it's done perfectly. I'm curious to see how it differs from how our chapter did it. ("uh oh, I can't find the sacred turtle shell" "okay, we can just use a seashell instead. No one will know the difference.")

That's why it really bothers me when GDIs talk about sorority initiations like they're something bad or abusive or, (ugh) kinky. Delta Zeta's initiation ritual is beautiful and uplifting and I would be absolutely shocked if it WEREN'T the case with the other NPC organizations as well.

I feel the exact same way. Maybe that's why we can't share: we'd all find out we've been wearing the same thing. :D

We do not have the no makeup requirement, for which I am grateful, because I am a mascara addict.

Nope.

What is this "initiation" that everyone is talking about?

It's when you light a candle and read out of a duo-tang folder. Oh. Wait. I've said too much. I'm telling secrets from the ritual of the honor society to which I belong.

I completely understand, NutBrnHair. That's why I put that disclaimer in the first post. I figure whomever feels they can share will do so but no one should feel uncomfortable!

Believe me, I didn't post anything a random person standing in front of a DZ house wouldn't be able to tell ya :)

I feel exactly the same way.

I don't see how make up could make any worse of a mess to be cleaned than all that blood from the ritual sacrifices.

That's not just us, right?

OMG -I've said too much, haven't I? :o

ssssshhhhh!!! thats supposed to be a secret!! bad kappa!! ;)

Likewise (with the obvious substitution of AEPhi).

<tangent>
Several years ago, AEPhi colonized at Brandeis University, and I was invited to the colonization (I wasn't able to make it, unfortunately). Brandeis does not recognize greek life, so we were specifically instructed NOT to wear white, but instead to wear normal street clothes and bring a white outfit to change into. We were also asked to bring, but not wear, our badges.

The chapter was never chartered, but there are chapters of SDT and DPhiE, as well as ZBT and a couple of other fraternities.
</tangent>

Fraternities
 

I notice no comments about Fraternities on this thread...

I presume that Suit and Tie would be most standard?

My mother made me promise that, if I ever got remarried (!), that I'd get my eyelashes dyed!

That is probably the biggest Initiation myth we have. Makeup is fine.. the idea is for women to look their best on a special day :) Heels are not a requirement so that was clearly a chapter nuance. Maybe they had issues with women trying to get by with flip flops so they made it "heels".

White hose were bigger in the 90s, I think. I'm not even sure they still sell them!


No need to feel guilty. If you're not supposed to discuss it, then don't. This is not secret information for some of us.

As my sisters above noted.. white dress (below the knee), with shoulders covered and white shoes. Jewelry is not worn but makeup can be.

Having seen an initiation at our convention, honestly? It was just a lot more people standing around watching it. Then again, I think ours is pretty idiot proof. From what I gather on here, other groups' are more complicated. Ours is quite straightforward (except for the part where we fire up the Phoenix's butt) and I like it that way.

Subbing in my sorority, ditto. We've even asked passers-by to help us take pictures outside of our house before initiation.

I feel I can say what we wore since the Phi Mu Alpha guys got to see us moving about the music building (no houses for sororities in upper state SC). Some of them were apparently there just to see this. As in, they were waiting in the hallways. :rolleyes:

Anyways... All white. Dress, slacks, skirts, bathing suit coverup dress things. No specification on formality, but we took it to be an event to look nice for as a class. No make-up. No nail polish. No jewelry other than the MIT pin. Pure white shoes, white socks, or no shoes at all (your choice). Most of us went for no shoes. They collected the shoes we walked over in and any jewelry (including simple studs) before we were allowed to begin. We were warned by random sisters the week prior to our ceremony as to what to wear.

When I explained to my mom that I was looking for a white skirt, she asked why. Apparently she got to wear a mix of the sorority colors for her AOII initiation... all those years ago.

At our Convention, a nearby chapter does it. And it may be for real if they have someone to initiate or it may be a mock ceremony. Frankly, to get up early to go is not on my radar screen.....I can go to one every semester here if I want...and at least I know the people.....

Well, there was a comment from a fraternity member. ;)

A lot of interesting cultural practices can be found if you Google Image "initiation."

We made a point of including Initiation attire in the Alpha Experience Magazine so that it wouldn't be a surprise. Also so the discrepancies would be eliminated.

Dress is not secret in AGD land for the ceremony, regardless of role.

Here's what you'd see on a new member one her way to Chi Omega initiation on my campus: White dress (not too finicky about it being pristine white), hair/makeup=whatever, and any shoes. But she'd be carrying white socks. What goes on past that point, well...let's just say the giant flock of owls gets released and the mayhem begins :)

A friend of mine in a different sorority (won't say which) was told to buy nude underwear, which seemed really weird to me at the time, but I guess it isn't that uncommon from reading this thread!

Touche. It should have been I've seen no comment on dress for Fraternity Initiations. (and by Fraternity here, I am not including any of the "Women's Fraternities" in the NPC)

Nah. She probably just doesn't remember. We have worn and always will wear all white.

Nope! I second that. Sharing ritual is a line I definitely do not want to cross even accidentally.

See my post #24 on page 2. ;)

Sssshhhh! KSU, you're giving it away! Just don't mention the skull masks... oh gosh now it's all out there.

*Off to do a Polyvore initiation outfit project. ;)

My 2nd daughter was told to wear white underwear. She and her NM sisters concocted some idea that the chapter would be removing their underwear, so they all came to initiation with two pair of underwear on. The whole point of being told to wear white underwear was because those of us in the audience were tired of seeing polka dots, zebra stripes, etc. through the white dresses!

We were also told to wear the bare minimum of tasteful makeup and jewelry. Shoes were an option, but at least socks were a must because our feet would get cold. Beyond that... ;)

I also have a "ritual" section in my closet- I wear those items only at initiations because I don't want to muss them up. :)

The way the question is phrased "what were you told to wear to initiation?" doesn't give much away - maybe they put you in sequined hose, red-and-white bikinis and cowboy hats (like we do) when you arrive at your chapter room, but what you actually are told to show up in is going to be obvious to anyone on campus.

I owned an absolutely hideous cream-colored polyester dress to go to rituals, and hideous white shoes. As 33girl mentioned, pantyhouse were also de rigueur at the time. Yuck. Nothing was said about make up and hair.

I was fairly horrified to see post-ritual pictures posted by my chapter on their website several years ago where one of the girls was wearing skin-tight white pants with a skin-tight white belly shirt. It was so indescribably awful that I wish I still had it available.

Total hijack/rant. This is a total pet peeve of mine. You are supposed to wear skin color bras/underwear underneath white to prevent the world from seeing your undergarments. White totally shows through. I don't understand why people don't get this!!!

(This is not directed at you in any way, rockwallgreek! So many people say this :))

/rant

The thing is, it has to be the color of YOUR skin, not what Bali or Maidenform or whoever call "flesh tone." If you're super duper pale, sometimes you're better off goig with white.

This would be me.

When I initiated (2000), we had to wear white hose (as a chapter). They were certainly "out of fashion" already at that point, but surprisingly, in the next year or two when the vote came up in chapter to remove that requirement, it was met with MUCH resistance and if I remember correctly, failed the first time it was presented.

I'm betting because it was "Tradition."

http://www.myskins.com/

I shouldn't threadjack, but this company makes lingerie that comes in 20 shades so just about everyone can find a color that matches their skin. They'll even send you a little card with the colors on it so you can hold it up and match yourself! I'm an "04" :)

:)

It took decades before companies stopped basing "flesh tone" and "nude" on predominantly white women's skin tones.

Whether your undergarments are white, tan, brown, or black--look at yourself in the mirror from the front and back. Women's liberation, indeed.