Greek Holidays?

[LettersOnMyChst]

I've only heard of one...National Para Day, and I heard it's on November 16th.

Are there any other "universal" Greek holidays?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by LettersOnMyChst

I've only heard of one...National Para Day, and I heard it's on November 16th.

Never heard of it.

I've never heard of any days observed by more than one Greek org as "universal" Greek observances, except for the NPC's International Badge Day in early March.

[LettersOnMyChst]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Never heard of it.

I've never heard of any days observed by more than one Greek org as "universal" Greek observances, except for the NPC's International Badge Day in early March.

I didn't hear of any either except for this one. Oh well, maybe someone should make one official?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by LettersOnMyChst

Oh well, maybe someone should make one official?

The NPC International Badge Day is official for the NPC and its members orgs.

As for National Paraphernalia Day, I did a Google Search and found references to it on websites relate to Zeta Phi Beta.




I didn't come across any references to it with any other GLO, nor any references to it being observed outside Zeta Phi Beta, which observes it on the 16th of every month (I'm guessing to commemorate Zeta's founding on the 16th of January).

[LettersOnMyChst]

Ah no wonder.

The person I heard it from was in Zeta Phi Beta lol.

I guess she was talking about THEIR National Para Day.

[ElieM]

Oh man, for a moment there I thought it was a day celebrating famous fraternity paraplegics...brain fart.

[amIblue?]

My mind went to paratrooper. hmmmmm....tough guys in uniform.....

[LettersOnMyChst]

Lol, what do you guys say instead of para?

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by LettersOnMyChst

Lol, what do you guys say instead of para?

Letters.

[ElieM]

I say letters. I've seen others use 'nalia

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by LettersOnMyChst

Lol, what do you guys say instead of para?

In my experience, "paraphernalia," "para" and "'nalia" are terms typically used by people in NPHC and NALFO orgs and others influenced by them. From those in NIC/NPC orgs and others influenced by them, I typically hear (as AlphaFrog says) "letters."

[LettersOnMyChst]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

In my experience, "paraphernalia," "para" and "'nalia" are terms typically used by people in NPHC and NALFO orgs and others influenced by them. From those in NIC/NPC orgs and others influenced by them, I typically hear (as AlphaFrog says) "letters."

Interesting.

I started saying para cause one of my friends in Theta Phi Alpha was saying it.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by LettersOnMyChst

Interesting.

I started saying para cause one of my friends in Theta Phi Alpha was saying it.

I'm fairly sure that is something particular to her campus, and not a national TPA term.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I've never heard of any days observed by more than one Greek org as "universal" Greek observances, except for the NPC's International Badge Day in early March.

Ditto. Since its original establishment, NPC Badge Day has extended beyond the NPC - my understanding is that all GLO members are encouraged to wear their badges, or otherwise represent their affiliations, on that day.

When I was an active, we had "Panhellenic Ribbons" that we could pin behind our badges. (Picture a "Support the Troops" or "Breast Cancer Awareness" ribbon fastened with a badge. But what we got was a scrap of ribbon that you had to hold in the correct shape while pinning the badge to your blouse, through the ribbon twice so it wouldn't pop out of alignment, along with making sure the badge was above the heart, straight horizontal, etc.). The ribbons were blue because no NPC sorority represented on campus at the time used blue as a color. I vaguely recall an all-campus NPC badge day where we were all supposed to wear our badges with the ribbons, to signify Panhellenic unity... this was before NPC Badge Day came about. (I still have my ribbon.) I much prefer NPC Badge Day ... badge, guard, dangles, Order of Omega pin, no muss, no fuss, no bother.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Ditto. Since its original establishment, NPC Badge Day has extended beyond the NPC - my understanding is that all GLO members are encouraged to wear their badges, or otherwise represent their affiliations, on that day.

Perhaps on some campuses. I'll be honest -- I'd never heard of it until GC.

The FAQ about Badge Day at the NPC's website does have this:

Q: Who participates in International Badge Day?
A: This is the fourth year that we’re celebrating diversity and our common sorority experience. In the spirit of global interfraternal relations, NPC also invited the National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc., the National Multicultural Greek Council, the National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations Inc. to participate

But still, this seems to be aimed at sororities -- all groups listed are made up of both sororities and fraternities, but the NIC is not listed.

FWIW.