Yale University is steeped in custom , from the darkly mysterious Skull and Bones gild to the melodiousWhiffenpoofs . Even when kicking back with a drinking from the pressures of Ivy League living , Yalies do n’t take a break from their decennium - old customs . Since 1849 , students have visitedMory’salmost obsessionally . There they cut up their initial into the table , slurp down bowlful upon sports stadium of Baker Soup , and engage in the religious rite of passage known just as Cups .
Originally an exclusive nightclub for males affiliated with Yale , Mory ’s is still member only , but it is now open to male and female students , alumni , faculty and the prompt New Haven community — all for varying annual fee . Old school or young , every skilful Mory ’s member has engaged in a good game of Cups , a hard drink - fueled , musical ritual that leads to several tipsy client and one very wet fountainhead .
The Cups are giant , atomic number 47 , handled chalice , filled to the lip with brightly colored , fizzy alcoholic drinks . To get the biz started , a group of friends orders one of the six different Cups by color : red ( rummy and grenadine ) , gold ( orange tree succus , Champagne and triple sec ) , purpleness ( Champagne and Chambord ) , bluish ( Champagne and gamy curaçao ) , green ( a mystery drink ) or velvet ( Champagne and Guinness ) . Each mortal take a turn , drink in as much as they can from the Cup , before passing it around the mesa . This go along like a game of Hot Potato , until one individual is get out with just enough in their goblet to warrant finishing it — then the real fun begins .
This prosperous someone has the obligation of “ cleaning the Cup , ” gulping down up every last drop . When they hold the loving cup to be empty , the Cup cleaner flips the prize upside down over their head . All the while , their group of booster sing Mory ’s song , which includes such verses as :
I was lying in the trough , All covered up in beer , Pretzels in my mustache , I thought my destruction was approximate , Then along came [ Name of Drinker]And saved me from the hearse !
Once the song is finish , the toper absent the Cup from their head and lay out it upside down on a napkin . Three friends place their hands on the nucleotide and give it a tap before removing the Cup to inspect the napkin for droplet . If the nappy is dry , the drinker who came before the Cup cleaner in the gyration has to ante up the chit . But if the table napkin is moist , the Cup cleaner is stuck with the bill .
The custom , for the most part , has remained unchanged — giving alumni a bridge to relate with enrolled scholarly person . Whether he ’s an 80 - twelvemonth - honest-to-god alum reminiscing about the golden days or an eager freshman solidify her place in a centuries old institution , every Yalie finds the spirit of collegial communion at the bottom of a Cup — and then rain cats and dogs it the right way on his or her head .