Ideas for Greek Gifts

Greek-lettered T-shirts display the fraternity's letters on the wearer's chest.

College life offers students a variety of student body organizations to join. Entering into Greek life, in either a fraternity or a sorority, provides students with a group of fellow students who bond together as a second family. When purchasing a gift for a fellow Greek, for a birthday or a Greek-related event, there are many Greek life options available.

Letters

The moment when a Greek life pledge completes her pledge period and is officially accepted into the organization -- thereby earning her first letters -- is one of great pride for the pledge. Once accepted into the organization, the pledge is permitted to wear its letters, on clothing emblazoned with the Greek letters representing the organization, on campus and off. With many organizations featuring days that mandate wearing letters, many Greeks build a wardrobe with lettered clothing in a variety of colors and styles. Purchasing lettered clothing for a friend who is a Greek, in colors and patterns he likes, allows you to help build his letter wardrobe.

Paddles

While movies have sensationalized Greek life hazing, with the wooden paddle a stereotypical hazing element, the paddle is actually a symbol used in a nonviolent manner in Greek life. Once new pledges have been accepted into an organization, the current sisters form bonds where older sisters select a new member and serve as the new member's big sister, while the new members becomes their little sisters. Traditionally, upon being taken in as a little sister, the new sister gives a gift wooden paddle, which she has decorated for her new big sister.

Family Symbols

Within Greek organizations, there are smaller groups formed through the system of big and little sisters, with a chain of sisters connected through bigs and littles, known as a family. The families each select their own family name, which can often be whatever the family wishes. If buying a gift for a sister in your family, many family names lend themselves to buying gifts that fit the family theme. For example, a sister in a family that named themselves the Ladybug Family could buy ladybug- related gifts for a family member.

Organization Gifts

While clothing emblazoned with the organization's letters is the most common gift type for members of a Greek organization, it is not the only lettered option. Greek stores sell wide ranges of items emblazoned with the Greek letters, ranging from jewelry to glassware, to buy for a proud Greek member. Those with an inclination for arts and crafts can make their own lettered gifts with supplies from craft shops, such as a wood picture frame with wood Greek letters glued to it and then painted.

References

• College Tips: Greek Alphabet Letters
• Greek Paddles: Paddle Supplies