Greek Life

• Floats meant to celebrate the history and tradition of Greek life should draw upon the culture of the fraternity or sorority designing the float. A float for the sorority Alpha Phi - Omicron can draw upon its colors of silver and bordeaux, the symbol of the ivy leaf, forget-me-not and lily-of-the-valley flowers and the Phi Bear mascot for decoration ideas. Fraternities known for drawing students majoring in specific fields can incorporate ideas associated with those fields when designing their floats. The more a float celebrates a chapter's rich history, the better job the designers do in honoring their traditions.
  
  

Greek Mythology

• A float designed using Greek mythology as its inspiration has a wide selection of famous iconography to draw from. A float depicting Zeus, the king of Olympus and ruler of the sky, can use the the god's famous lightening bolt and storm clouds as inspiration. A float designed around Dionysus, the god of fertility and wine, can incorporate grape vines and lush vegetation. A float hailing Poseidon, god of the sea, can use a nautical theme with plenty of deep blues and sea-green colors. With so many gods, minor deities and famous heroes in Greek mythology, it only takes a little research to find the perfect theme for a house's float.
  
  

Greek History

• From the Spartans and their famous Battle of Thermopylae, to classic philosophers such as Plato and Socrates, to the first Olympic games, Greek history offers a rich source of inspiration. Greek ideas about philosophy, mathematics, education and teaching helped shape and establish the rest of the world's concepts of knowledge. The architectural design of the Parthenon, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia have influenced and inspired architects for thousands of years. Using Greek history as inspiration offer limitless ideas for a float's design.
  
  

Greek Independence

• The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York sponsors the annual Greek Independence Day Parade that travels down New York's Fifth Avenue. The parade celebrates Greece's declaration of independence from the Turks on March 25, 1821 and draws hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. A float that celebrates Greece's independence from the Ottoman Empire can drawn upon examples of how the nation has changed over the last 190 years and explore how Greece evolved into the nation it is today.