Why are fraternity and sororities referred to as “Greek” organizations?
Sororities and fraternities are commonly known as Greek organizations and their members as “Greeks” because a majority of them use Greek letters to distinguish themselves. It is not a reflection of the ancestry of the individual members. Greek letters where chosen during the 1800s for a variety of reasons including: a tribute to the first true democracies in the Western World; the fact that many of the organizations used Greek (and sometimes Latin) words for their secret and public mottoes, officers etc; and because many of the organizations grew from literary societies that were dedicated to the discussion of classical literature as was popular among the educated classes of the time. This term is further solidified today by the use of Greek architectural elements including pediments and columns commonly adorning fraternity and sorority houses.
Sororities and fraternities are commonly known as Greek organizations and their members as “Greeks” because a majority of them use Greek letters to distinguish themselves. It is not a reflection of the ancestry of the individual members. Greek letters where chosen during the 1800s for a variety of reasons including: a tribute to the first true democracies in the Western World; the fact that many of the organizations used Greek (and sometimes Latin) words for their secret and public mottoes, officers etc; and because many of the organizations grew from literary societies that were dedicated to the discussion of classical literature as was popular amongst the educated classes of the time. This term is further solidified today by the use of Greek architectural elements including pediments and columns commonly adorning fraternity and sorority houses.
