Editing Book and Snake (section)

== Symbols and traditions ==
Book and Snake uses a mix of ancient and esoteric symbols with meanings known only to its members.<ref name=":6" /> Its Tomb is said to be "the perpetual attempt of establishing an official perfect order on earth, a sort of platonic reflection of heavenly secret societies."<ref name=":18" />

In the Sigma Delta Chi era, the group's symbol was a jawless skull that was chained to a cross.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |title=Fleshing Out Skull & Bones: Investigations into America's Most Powerful Secret Society |publisher=Trine Day |year=2003 |isbn=978-0972020725 |editor-last=Millegan |editor-first=Kris |pages=410–411 |language=en}}</ref> The Book and Snake's original badge was an open book displaying the Greek letters '''ΣΔΧ''' surrounded by a coiled serpent.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Baird |first1=Wm Raimond |url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007393856 |title=Baird's manual of American college fraternities; a descriptive analysis of the fraternity system in the colleges of the United States, with a detailed account of each fraternity. |last2=Brown |first2=James Taylor |date=1923 |publisher=James T. Brown, editor and publisher. |edition=10th |location=New York |page=716 |via=Hathi Trust}}</ref> It was worn on the member's tie.<ref name=":15" /> The modern version of this pin is an open book with an [[ouroboros]] on top, and no Greek letters.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=14k 1895 Yale Book and Snake Society Sigma Delta Chi {{!}} #77059532 |url=https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/14k-1895-yale-book-snake-society-77059532 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Worthpoint |language=en}}</ref> It is made of gold and is {{Convert|1/2 by 1/2|in|cm}} in size.<ref name=":10" />

Each member of Book and Snake has a pewter or glass [[tankard]] that hangs on a hook in the Tomb's dining room, ready for whenever they return.<ref name=":10" /> When a member dies, their tankard is broken or pierced through its bottom.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Beach |first=Randall |date=2012-09-29 |title=Come with us for a rare glimpse into the mysterious secrets within the walls of Yale's 'tombs' (photos) |url=https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/RANDALL-BEACH-Come-with-us-for-a-rare-glimpse-11441094.php |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=New Haven Register |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":10" />