I have learnt alot about the mafia on this board but one of the things i dont know is the ways the familys would accept an associate into the family ...can any1 help me?

Same as with any club, you need new members to continue on.

i mean what do they do , because i've heard they have a ceremony when they get made , i was wondering what happens at these ceremonys

I don't think anybody really knows. The basic version (correct me if I'm wrong somebody) is that they have their finger pricked in a ceremony and the blood dripped on a saint card. Than ussually the card is burned in a candle and the new "made man" is tosted and brought to a formal dinner. Usually all of the captians are there, and he's welcomed into the family.

Mr. Mojo's description is usually the way most Mafia writers describe an initiation ceremony. The new made man holds the burning saint's card in his hand and supposedly says, "May I burn in hell if I ever betray the family," or some such.
As a practical matter, some families have a ceremony, some don't. And not all that do follow the above ritual.

One point about terminology: in the US, an "associate" is usually a non-made man--a guy who works with a family and for made guys, but who isn't made himself. An associate can be brought in by a made man who will vouch that the guy is ok and can make money for the family. If the associate serves a long and successful apprenticeship, he'll get "made"--perhaps in a ceremony like the one described.

thanks again turnbull and mrmojo , the only ceremony type thing i have heard of is the Yakuza were they cut off one of their fingers , i dont think the mafia are that dramatic though

In addition to what Turnbull said, they also have to pledge their undying loyalty to the sacred code om Omerta.

The ceremony is pretty much accepted to be true, because a 1880 Sicilian description of the ritual, was exactly identical to the Valachi description of the USA - 1928, when Maranzano 'made' Valachi.

thanks alot all of you for answering i feel wiser now

Thats the ceramony Joe Valachi exposed while he was testifying against the mafia.

That's right: losing a finger would reduce a Mafioso's ability to steal.