Sitsit
Encyclopedia
Sitsit in Finnish or sits in Finland-Swedish
, is a traditional academic student feast organised in some universities
in Finland
, particularly in Åbo Akademi, University of Turku
, Helsinki University of Technology
, University of Helsinki
and Tampere University of Technology. They are also organised by a few non-academic organisations, such as the Turku Science Fiction Society
. It also became a tradition in the german
University of Göttingen in the early 2010ths.
The tradition probably shares roots with traditional student feast in other parts of Europe
, including Commercium
, Tableround
and Cantus
. The same tradition also exists in Swedish academic tradition, where it is known as a sittning
or, with an older term, sexa. Much of the Finnish sitsit-culture has evolved in student contacts with Sweden, and many of the classic Swedish drinking songs are also sung in Swedish or in translated versions during Finnish-speaking sitsit.
The participants of sitsit sit around a table. During the feast a three-course meal is served. Depending on the occasion the meal may be simple or lavish. The proceedings are led by a master of ceremonies, whose responsibility is to uphold traditions and order songs, usually based on suggestions from the participants.
Group singing is an integral part of sitsit. The songs include numerous drinking songs, some with a common tune with new words. In more formal sitsit, academic and patriotic songs, such as De Brevitate Vitae
, Finlandia Hymn
and The Jäger March
are sung. Many of the songs have words which are bawdy or mock political parties, certain nationalities or university teachers. It is customary to start with more formal songs and proceed to the bawdier ones as the party gets rowdier. Many songs have their own associated traditions. For example, a special song is sung while punsch
is served.
After a snaps song
has been finished, everyone raises their glasses and toast. Men toast to their right, then to their left, and finally to the person opposite, after which the glass is drank from or emptied fully, depending on tradition. Women toast the same way, except starting from their left. This requires equal number of men and women to be present and seated so that every man is surrounded by women and the other way around. As this is not always the case, there are several customs as to how to treat the exceptions.
Finland-Swedish
Finland Swedish is a general term for the closely related cluster of dialects of Swedish spoken in Finland by Swedish-speaking Finns as their mother tongue...
, is a traditional academic student feast organised in some universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, particularly in Åbo Akademi, University of Turku
University of Turku
The University of Turku , located in Turku in southwestern Finland, is the second largest university in the country as measured by student enrollment, after University of Helsinki. It was established in 1920 and also has faculties at Rauma, Pori and Salo...
, Helsinki University of Technology
Helsinki University of Technology
Aalto University School of Science and Technology , was the temporary name for Helsinki University of Technology during the process of forming the Aalto University...
, University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
and Tampere University of Technology. They are also organised by a few non-academic organisations, such as the Turku Science Fiction Society
Turku Science Fiction Society
Turku Science Fiction Society , or TSFS, is the oldest science fiction society in Finland. It was founded in 1976. The society publishes its own semiprozine, called Spin. It maintains a club room at the University of Turku with several related societies.the TSFS has been the main organiser of...
. It also became a tradition in the german
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
University of Göttingen in the early 2010ths.
The tradition probably shares roots with traditional student feast in other parts of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, including Commercium
Commercium
A commercium is a traditional academic feast known at universities in most Central and Northern European countries. In German it is called a 'Kommers'...
, Tableround
Tableround
A tableround is a traditional academic feast known at universities in most Middle and Eastern European countries. At a tableround, tables usually are placed in the form of a U or a W, the participants drink beer and sing commercium songs. A more formal form of the tableround is the commercium....
and Cantus
Cantus
A cantus , is an activity organised by Belgian, Dutch, French, Baltic and Afrikaans student organisations and fraternities. A cantus mainly involves singing traditional songs and drinking beer. It is governed by strict traditional rules...
. The same tradition also exists in Swedish academic tradition, where it is known as a sittning
Sittning
A sittning is in Sweden a seated meal held within a set time frame. In restaurants it may refer to a seating, i.e. the time given for a crowd to have their meal. The term is also used to denote the part of a party that is a seated meal...
or, with an older term, sexa. Much of the Finnish sitsit-culture has evolved in student contacts with Sweden, and many of the classic Swedish drinking songs are also sung in Swedish or in translated versions during Finnish-speaking sitsit.
The participants of sitsit sit around a table. During the feast a three-course meal is served. Depending on the occasion the meal may be simple or lavish. The proceedings are led by a master of ceremonies, whose responsibility is to uphold traditions and order songs, usually based on suggestions from the participants.
Group singing is an integral part of sitsit. The songs include numerous drinking songs, some with a common tune with new words. In more formal sitsit, academic and patriotic songs, such as De Brevitate Vitae
De Brevitate Vitae
"De Brevitate Vitae" , more commonly known as "Gaudeamus Igitur" or just "Gaudeamus", is a popular academic commercium song in many European countries, mainly sung or performed at university graduation ceremonies...
, Finlandia Hymn
Finlandia Hymn
The Finlandia Hymn refers to a serene hymn-like section of the patriotic symphonic poem Finlandia, written in 1899 and 1900 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius...
and The Jäger March
The Jäger March
The Jäger March Op. 91a was composed by Jean Sibelius in 1917 to the words written by the Finnish Jäger, Hilfsgruppenführer Heikki Nurmio who served in Libau, in the Royal Prussian 27th Jäger Battalion of the Imperial German Army. This unit was fighting against the Russian Empire, of which the...
are sung. Many of the songs have words which are bawdy or mock political parties, certain nationalities or university teachers. It is customary to start with more formal songs and proceed to the bawdier ones as the party gets rowdier. Many songs have their own associated traditions. For example, a special song is sung while punsch
Punsch
Punsch is a traditional liqueur in Sweden and to a lesser extent some other Nordic countries produced from arrack, neutral spirits, sugar, water, and various flavorings...
is served.
After a snaps song
Snapsvisa
A snapsvisa is a traditional Scandinavian drinking song which is often sung before drinking a small shot of spirit that is called a snaps....
has been finished, everyone raises their glasses and toast. Men toast to their right, then to their left, and finally to the person opposite, after which the glass is drank from or emptied fully, depending on tradition. Women toast the same way, except starting from their left. This requires equal number of men and women to be present and seated so that every man is surrounded by women and the other way around. As this is not always the case, there are several customs as to how to treat the exceptions.