Passionfruit

Passionfruit (sometimes referred to with a preliminary definite article) is an early morning ritual involving fruit juice and making toasts to things at CTY that are... toastworthy. It is generally led by the Emperor or Empress.

Carlisle

Passionfruit originated at Carlisle.

It is usually held on a Sunday. At the end of the Saturday dance the night before, the Empress and Emperor (and their buddies) will shout the time and place of Passionfruit for the following morning.

All speeches and toasts are given while standing and end with "I love CTY, and I love the Passionfruit." Customarily, every speech is followed by the entire circle taking a sip of his or her own drink. Every attendee gives a speech.

Passionfruit is now always supervised by RAs at Carlisle. You actually cannot be anywhere without being supervised, so if you are not going to Passionfruit, you cannot be outside, and you can only go to the HUB at 7:00, and only because it becomes supervised by RAs at 7:00. This means there can be no risqué devirginizations, toasts, or speeches.

Lancaster

Passionfruit first came to Lancaster in 1994, brought there by Andromeda Yelton.

At 6 A.M. on Hartman Green, students form a circle with a collection of drinks in the center. At Lancaster, juice is still purchased for the entire group by the Alcove. People donate money to help purchase the juice, but it is not mandatory; in 2007, however, beloved Site Director Brian helped buy and paid for all the drinks. After all students have gathered, the Emperors give their speeches, customarily ending with "I love CTY, and I love the Passionfruit," takes a drink, and passes it onward to the next nomore/nevermore. Then after all the nomores have gone, everyone else can give their speech with onemores having priority.

It is also customary to eat crackers and saltines while others are toasting, although this tradition has largely been lost to Session 2. This was started when, in 99.1, Joe Mermelstein and several of his friends began a competition to see who could steal the most saltines from the dining hall. Upon the beginning of Passionfruit, they realized the had nothing to do with the stolen saltines, and donated them to the event. From then on, saltines and other crackers have been both stolen and bought for Passionfruit and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

It is also here that the Jester position, the Duct Tape Suit, the 42 Duct Tape Bathrobe, the Caution Tape Cape, and the Fruitopia bottle are passed on during Second Session. During First Session, the Jester position also exists and is passed down. Also passed down are three Turkey Hill "grails", which represent a Session 1 Trinity of "The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost."

Electric Tree

The Electric Tree is a particular tree on Hartman Green that has an electrical outlet installed at the base of its trunk (although there are actually at least two such tress). This tree is used to play They Might Be Giants songs on the last day of each session, after the Passionfruit. This last traditional event is always bittersweet, and lasts until the second before class starts. It always ends with the song "The End of the Tour." This tradition has been observed since at least 1998.

Saratoga Springs (Skidmore)

Passionfruit at Skidmore takes place at 5:00 A.M on the last day of session. Students are then seen wandering around trying to shake off headaches caused by excessive amounts of high-fructose corn syrup and sleep deprivation. Everyone who is able to get out of bed is invited, and everyone meets out on the quad.

The nevermores and nomores get together and lead the procession through the haze down to the hill above the duck pond. Here the nevermores and nomores (nomores are allowed to participate, but this is mostly frowned upon, exempting certain people) form a seated circle and everyone else sits outside to quietly observe.

The actual passionfruit juice is a secret mix of juices only known to the RAs at this point, and the RAs coordinate the purchase of the drink. The drink is poured out and all the members of the circle get a glass. The Empresses make the first speeches, and the designation of speakers proceeds counter-clockwise around the circle. Most speeches are rather short (it is all you can manage at that hour), but all end with the line, "I love CTY and I love the Passionfruit." After this is apoken, everyone takes a sip of their drink. The last speeches are given by the current Emperors.

Before the event, the Passionfruit Royalty agree on their successors, and each announces one (if a current monarch is missing, his or her same-gender counterpart fulfills his/her role). Eligible candidates are onemores. At this point the new royalty can make brief remarks and thanks. Once they are done, everyone packs up and goes home.

Los Angeles (LMU)

Passionfruit at LMU is on the last morning at 5:30 A.M. and is only for nevermores, where they share confidential stories that cannot be repeated to anyone else unless stated otherwise. Nomores cannot attend unless they gain permission from the dean. It is rumored that coveted black lanyards are handed out at the end of the event.

Homewood

Passionfruit at Homewood is on the last morning at 6:00 A.M. and is only for nevermores.