What takes the relationships that form in sororities from friendships to sisterhood? The memories, the experiences, and the bonding. The holiday season is the perfect time for bonding between sisters. Here are the top ten ways that you can facilitate bonding in your chapter this winter season:
1. Go caroling
You may not have Mariah Carey’s range, but your effort will bring a smile to anyone you sing to. Gather a group of sisters and either go door-to-door, to someone specific in your sorority who needs some uplifting, or to a nursing home.
2. Decorate for your meetings
Everyone loves places with a festive feel. If you have a chapter meeting during the winter months, decorate the venue.
3. Pass out hot chocolate
Find a place in your area where people congregate in the cold. Some cities have light displays, live nativities, or window displays. Set up a stand to hand out hot chocolate to passersby; you will warm them and their hearts with your service.
4. Provide Christmas for a family in need
As you’ve learned in your sorority, nothing will bring you closer than serving together. Find a family who can’t otherwise afford Christmas for their children. Purchase and wrap gifts, assemble a Christmas meal, and maybe even have a gift card for the parent(s) to enjoy some Christmas magic, too. Shopping for someone who otherwise wouldn’t have anything on Christmas will bring you and your sisters a sweet Christmas spirit.
5. Ice skating
Bundle up, ladies. There’s something magical about gliding around on the glistening ice with friends. You will, however, most likely need to follow it up with some hot chocolate.
6. Host a Secret Santa gift exchange
Your chapter can start a new tradition with a Secret Santa. Give everyone a form to fill out that includes some of their favorite things. Let everyone pick a different sister out of a hat to give a gift to this holiday season. Give everyone the form for their gift recipient so they can get to know her better. Have a holiday soiree where everyone exchanges the Secret Santa gifts they bought. Randomization helps you get to know someone in your chapter you might not have crossed paths with yet.
7. Host a holiday party
Here are some ways to switch up your holiday party this year:
- Make it a potluck so the work is evenly distributed.
- Have everyone come in their ugly Christmas sweaters.
- Hold a white elephant gift exchange. You can find lots of different versions of games that you can play to distribute the white elephant gifts.
- Do a “favorite things” gift exchange. You’ll go to the party with one of your favorite things to distribute to another guest. You’ll come home with one of someone else’s favorite things. (Think lip balm, candles, treats, kitchen accessories, decor items, etc.) You can even have everyone bring multiples of their favorite things and come home with the same number of different gifts.
- Have a cookie exchange, where everyone brings a dozen cookies and takes home a dozen different cookies. Ask everyone to bring a copy of their recipe to exchange, too.
- Host a cookie decorating event. Don’t forget the sprinkles!
- Gather together in your coziest Christmas pajamas. Set up a hot cocoa bar and throw on a Hallmark movie.
- Have a gingerbread house decorating contest. Whether you decorate together or bring your finished masterpieces to the party for judging and prizes, a gingerbread house party can bring out some competitive fun.
8. Volunteer at a food shelter
Find somewhere you can all serve together. Help provide food for those less fortunate than you. Sign up early! These opportunities can fill fast around the holidays.
9. Go out to eat with a twist
Gather your sisters for a night out at a favorite sit-down restaurant. Plan ahead of time for everyone to contribute more than expected to the tip for the waiter or waitress who serves you. You can all be part of their Christmas miracle.
10. Do you wanna build a snowman?
Don’t let the kids have all the fun. If you live where it snows, gather your sisters together to build up a snowman. Don’t forget the snowman’s accessories, like its very own DST paraphernalia.
Winter can be a time of holiday cheer, but remember that it can also be a challenging time for many. Grief, depression, anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, and more can make even the most joyful season a difficult one. Be mindful of and inclusive of the sisters among you who are struggling. They need your strong sisterhood bonds now more than ever.
