Ritual

Merriam-Webster defines ritual as a)relating to rites and ritual...ceremonial b)according to religious law and c)done in accordance with social custom or protocol. I think that c) is the best way to apply this definition to the ritual the we all experience as members of the greek community. When you think about it, the people of each individual sorority and fraternity have been engaging in the same ceremonies for some, upwards of a hundred years. 

Rituals are the glue of our organizations. They represent the values that we all share and the type of organization we would like to represent and be a part of. People have a need to be part of something bigger than ourselves and repeating a ritual that has been a part of the organization for longer than we have even been alive helps our internal need for acceptance be recognized. 

Personally, my sorority's ritual represents everything I was looking for when I joined greek life. I think the ritual gives our organization a deeper meaning than the parties and the surface friendships. It connects the members on a level of greater importance which is a keystone to each and every fraternity and sorority.