On March 2, you may notice women dressing up and wearing a badge above their hearts. That is because they are celebrating International Badge Day. Each March sorority women around the world celebrate sisterhood and sorority membership by wearing their membership badges proudly. Each sorority has a unique membership badge that is reflective of their organization’s values and ideals. The size, shape and decorations of the badge are symbolic to the members of that organization. The badge often provides an outward symbol of the values and ideals that the organization was founded on holding a special place in the heart of its wearer.

International Badge Day is an annual celebration of sisterhood that was established in 1997 by the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) and is celebrated during Women’s History Month. The holiday started as an experiment by a sorority woman. In 1996, Alpha Sigma Alpha released the spring issue of its magazine, The Phoenix, with an article titled: “A Simple Solution – Wear Your Membership Badge Today” by Nora M. Ten Broeck. She explained her personal experience wearing her sorority pin to work her ability to share her sorority experience with others. In the article, Nora said there was a solution to educating others about the true fraternal experience. She stated that “the solution is as simple and as beautiful as our ritual and embodies all the power within it: Wear your membership badge.”

Now each year on a single day sorority women, both alumnae and collegiate members, wear their badges to reflect on their sorority membership and celebrate the lifelong bonds of sisterhood. Even long after college days are left behind sorority women still hold themselves to a higher standard and a membership badge is a physical reminder of that. For many women, their membership badge is a constant reminder of their values and commitments they made during their initiation.

If you want to follow women during their journey on badge day search #BadgeDay20 and follow @NPCWomen on Instagram.