The decision to lavalier or pin is certainly squarely in the hands of the fraternity member, but I know we had a wonderful tradition to celebratate the occasion.
Some chapters are more elaborate than others. But generally involves singing a "lavalier song" with a candle. It goes round and round until the lucky girl blows out the candle.
One time around is a new friend, two times around is a lavalier, three times around is a pinning, four times around is an engagement.
At some schools, the members will order a decorated candle from the chapter's florist and have it delivered to the house. So a fancy-pants candle sits in the foyer and lets everybody know that a candle ceremony will happen that night.
Most chapters just use any old candle. But I liked the idea of personalized candle decorated up that you keep as a memento.
Sadly, our lavalier song, which is the original lavalier song for AOII, seems to have been lost.
There's a longing in the heart of each AOII
for the man who lives in her dreams (in her dreams...)
Someone to share all her sorrows and cares
just a regular fellow it seems (so it seems...)
For I love him so and for him I would die
He's the Sweetheart of an A-O-II
At my college, the guys had a ceremony where they messed with the brother who had given up with lavalier and sometimes they sing to the sorority member. I only ever heard the Beta's and the Sig Eps do a sweetheart song. So the girlfriend or fiancee was surrounded by the pledges or the chapter and they sang a sweetheart song to her. One of my very best friends got a Sigma Chi pin, but nothing ever happened to her because she had never pledged a sorority and the Sigma Chi's lamely did not do anything.
She never married him, but she kept the pin - I think that's wrong!
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