Quote:
Originally Posted by ASTalumna06
^^ Ok, what's up with the goat thing?? I've heard a ridiculous number of people spread rumors that an organization does something with a goat at initiation. What exactly are these new members supposedly doing with said goat?
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"Riding the goat" as an aspect of initiation into secret societies, and as a general euphemism for initiation itself, goes
way back, originally being applied to Odd Fellows and Freemasons. A pretty good history of it can be found
here.
From "riding the goat," it wasn't a long trip to goats have all kinds of parts to play in initiations.
ETA:
"Riding the Goat" by Cassius Coolidge (of "Dogs Playing Poker" fame):