Crest
The Coat-of-Arms may be used by members only in any manner which is dignified and tasteful. Many attractive Coat-of-Arms plaques have been designed to hang in the chapter house or in a member's home. The ritualistic meaning of the Coat-of-Arms is reserved for those who are initiated into the Fraternity.
Colors
The colors of Zeta Tau Alpha are turquoise blue and steel gray. The significance of these colors is explained in the Initiation Service.
Flower
Our Flower is the White Violet, which grows in abundance in Virginia and represents purity.
Five Pointed Crown
The five-pointed crown, which represents the nobler woman, is one of four symbols of the fraternity.
Strawberries
Before the fraternity's official founding and long before the name Zeta Tau Alpha was selected, the strawberry became symbolic to our sisterhood. Mary Campbell (they called her Cammie) had a secret admirer. One day, he sent her a gift of strawberries. Cammie brought the delicious treat to share with a group of her closest friends. This event was the first social gathering of Zeta sisters and marked the beginning of their being officially recognized as an organization.
Patron Goddess
The Founders chose Themis to represent the Fraternity. Themis is, in Greek mythology, one of the Titans, daughter of Gaea (Earth) and Uranus (Heaven), and the mother of the three Fates and the Seasons. The goddess of divine justice and law, Themis was the constant companion of the god Zeus and sat beside him on Olympus. In ancient art she is represented holding aloft a pair of scales on which she weighs the claims of opposing parties.
Member's Badge
The badge of the Fraternity is a small, black enameled shield superimposed upon a gold shield, bearing a five-pointed crown with the letters ZTA arranged around it and the word Themis in Greek below it. It is correct to wear the badge on all occasions except when informal athletic clothes are worn. The badge may be plain or jeweled, depending on the member's preference. The border of the badge may be composed of one kind of stone or a combination of two kinds of stones.
Pledge Pin
The Pledge Pin of Zeta Tau Alpha is a silver carpenter's square enameled in turquoise. It is worn by all who have duly pledged their loyalty to the Fraternity. This pin is presented by the chapter at the time of pledging, but when lost, it is the responsibility of the individual to purchase another. When a new member is initiated, leaves college, or ceases to be a new member, she returns her pledge pin to the chapter, even if she has purchased it herself. Under no circumstances is a pledge pin ever used as a charm or a keepsake.
Bunny
This is the local symbol used by some chapters (mostly in Texas) but is not a national symbol.
Chain of Chapters
At our International Office lies an actual "Chain of Chapters". Each chapter chartered by ZTA has a silver link in the chain with their chapter name and founding dated inscribed upon it. The first link in the chain is for our founding chapter at Longwood College and is the only gold link in the chain.