| Revision as of 21:36, 3 February 2006 editJacrosse (talk | contribs)1,223 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 21:40, 22 May 2024 edit undoBcrjb2024 (talk | contribs)1 editm Replaced the second photograph on the page as it is not an accurate representation of a "Toga Party" as described in the first paragraph of the page. The Picture, as can be seen in its Wikimedia Commons Description, is from a Greek Festival at a Hellenic Cultural Center and therefore does not match the description on this page that "Toga parties are associated with keg parties and binge drinking...", and should therefore be removed or replaced. Other images may be better suited than the new one.Tag: Visual edit | ||
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| {{Short description|Greco-Roman–themed costume party}} | |||
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| A '''toga party''' is a ]-themed ] where attendees wear a garment inspired by ancient Roman clothing (normally made from a ]) with ]s. The costumes, party games, and other entertainment often adhere to the Roman or Greek theme. Toga parties are associated with ] and ], and attendees typically tend to be college or university students. | |||
| ==History== | |||
| A popular ] on American college campuses, a '''toga party''' is a particular kind of costume ] at which everyone wears a ], or a semblance thereof, normally made from a bedsheet. Started in the ], the toga party concept originated within the ], or "Greek" campus culture, hence the costume. Toga parties are notorious for featuring large amounts of alcoholic beverages, especially ]. | |||
| First lady ] held a toga party in 1934 to spoof those that compared her husband President ] to "Caesar".<ref>{{cite web |title=FDR Birthday |url=https://fdrlibrary.org/fdr-birthday |website=FDR Presidential Library and Museum}}</ref><ref>Mount, Harry. ]. New York: Hyperion, 2007.</ref> | |||
| The earliest known college toga parties took place in the ] in the early 1950s. Toga parties are recorded in the yearbooks for ] (1952)<ref>{{cite book|title=The Shield |publisher=] |date=1952 |page=63 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-AHPAAAAMAAJ&q=%22toga+party%22}}</ref> and the University of Michigan's ] (1953).<ref>{{cite book|title=The Triad |publisher=] |date=1953 |page=96 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=McbmAAAAMAAJ&q=%22toga+party%22}}</ref> Another early toga party took place in 1953, when ] students wore togas and ivy wreaths, and brought their dorm mattresses to freshman Mark Neuman's home on Hillcrest Avenue in nearby Flintridge.<ref>{{cite web |title=What to Wear to a Toga Party |url=http://www.innovateus.net/innopedia/what-wear-toga-party |publisher=Innovate US |access-date=2 October 2012}}</ref> | |||
| According to the book ''Leo Strauss and the Politics of American Empire'' by ], a variation on the toga party is rumored to have been practiced by many of the early followers of ], most often designed as a ] re-enactment of ]. Fuel was later added to these rumors by the behavior of Strauss's most famous disciple, ], who reportedly held these "toga parties" among his students at ]. | |||
| For the eight decades before Greek-themed parties became known as "toga parties" in the 1950s, similar parties were generally called "bed sheet and pillow slip" parties (or simply, "pillow slip" parties), in which attendees wrapped themselves in sheets and pillow cases, were regularly held by fraternal orders (like the Masons, Odd Fellows and Elks), civic organizations, and church groups.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jensen Brown|first1=Peter|title=Fraternal Orders, Fraternities, Bed Sheets and Pillow Cases - Wrapping Up the History of the "Toga Party"|url=http://esnpc.blogspot.com/2016/12/fraternal-orders-fraternities-bed.html|website=Early Sports 'n' Pop-Culture History Blog|date=5 December 2016 |access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> In 1882, the Terpsichore Society of the ] held a "pillow slip party" which may arguably be considered the first known college toga party.<ref>{{cite book|title=Makio|date=1886|publisher=Fraternities of the Ohio State University|location=Columbus, Ohio|page=79}}</ref> | |||
| Toga parties were depicted in the ] film '']'', which propelled the ritual into a widespread and enduring practice. | |||
| Although they are called "toga parties", attendants rarely wear ]s, which were intricately draped garments made from large semicircles of fabric, instead wearing articles that more closely resemble ]. | |||
| The ] for the largest toga party is 3,700 participants. The event, organized by the ] and the ] Student Guild, was held on 24 February 2012 at ] in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.<ref></ref> | |||
| ==In popular culture== | |||
| ] | |||
| A toga party was depicted in the 1978 film '']'', which propelled the ritual into a widespread and enduring practice. ], who was one of the writers of ''Animal House'', attended ] where the toga party was a popular costume event at major fraternity parties (such as ] and ]) during the late 1950s and early 1960s. | |||
| A toga party was also briefly described in ]'s 1968 story "]", although somewhat different from the version in the film. Toga parties are also seen in the first episode of season four of the television series '']'' and in the fourth episode of '']''. | |||
| "The World's Largest Toga Party" was the tagline of ]. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| {{Parties}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Toga Party}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:40, 22 May 2024
Greco-Roman–themed costume party
A toga party is a Greco-Roman-themed costume party where attendees wear a garment inspired by ancient Roman clothing (normally made from a bed sheet) with sandals. The costumes, party games, and other entertainment often adhere to the Roman or Greek theme. Toga parties are associated with keg parties and excessive drinking, and attendees typically tend to be college or university students.
History
First lady Eleanor Roosevelt held a toga party in 1934 to spoof those that compared her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt to "Caesar".
The earliest known college toga parties took place in the United States in the early 1950s. Toga parties are recorded in the yearbooks for Theta Delta Chi (1952) and the University of Michigan's Acacia Fraternity (1953). Another early toga party took place in 1953, when Pomona College students wore togas and ivy wreaths, and brought their dorm mattresses to freshman Mark Neuman's home on Hillcrest Avenue in nearby Flintridge.
For the eight decades before Greek-themed parties became known as "toga parties" in the 1950s, similar parties were generally called "bed sheet and pillow slip" parties (or simply, "pillow slip" parties), in which attendees wrapped themselves in sheets and pillow cases, were regularly held by fraternal orders (like the Masons, Odd Fellows and Elks), civic organizations, and church groups. In 1882, the Terpsichore Society of the Ohio State University held a "pillow slip party" which may arguably be considered the first known college toga party.
Although they are called "toga parties", attendants rarely wear togas, which were intricately draped garments made from large semicircles of fabric, instead wearing articles that more closely resemble chitons.
The Guinness World Record for the largest toga party is 3,700 participants. The event, organized by the University of Queensland Union and the Queensland University of Technology Student Guild, was held on 24 February 2012 at Riverstage in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
In popular culture
A toga party was depicted in the 1978 film Animal House, which propelled the ritual into a widespread and enduring practice. Chris Miller, who was one of the writers of Animal House, attended Dartmouth College where the toga party was a popular costume event at major fraternity parties (such as Winter Carnival and Green Key Weekend) during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
A toga party was also briefly described in Tom Wolfe's 1968 story "The Pump House Gang", although somewhat different from the version in the film. Toga parties are also seen in the first episode of season four of the television series Greek and in the fourth episode of Silicon Valley.
"The World's Largest Toga Party" was the tagline of WrestleMania IX.
See also
References
- "FDR Birthday". FDR Presidential Library and Museum.
- Mount, Harry. Carpe Diem: Put a Little Latin in Your Life. New York: Hyperion, 2007.
- The Shield. Theta Delta Chi. 1952. p. 63.
- The Triad. Acacia. 1953. p. 96.
- "What to Wear to a Toga Party". Innovate US. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
- Jensen Brown, Peter (5 December 2016). "Fraternal Orders, Fraternities, Bed Sheets and Pillow Cases - Wrapping Up the History of the "Toga Party"". Early Sports 'n' Pop-Culture History Blog. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- Makio. Columbus, Ohio: Fraternities of the Ohio State University. 1886. p. 79.
- Guinness World Records: Largest Toga Party
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