The Freshers "Sittning" a.k.a. Novischfesten

Initially, I meant to write about the Sittning tradition weeks ago. After my first one (the Helsingkrona crayfish party) I was convinced I had a complete picture of what goes on at one of them. However, the first few minutes of the Novichfesten was enough to convince me what a presupposing idiot I was. Dozens of guests, while being great company all the same, hardly compare to what a couple hundred can do. Furthermore, the entire night was loaded with entertainment designed to help you forget the greater world around you as your personal sittning wonderland enclosed around your sense of reality. Like Alice without the white rabbit or... anything else that's iconic of that story.

The Sittning (Finnish: sitsit, English [literal]: sitting) combines the formality of dinner parties with the informality of student life in order to create a common standard for a weekend social gathering in the form of a large meal, drinks, and good company. Sittnings are commonplace in both Finland and Sweden, the former having adopted it from the latter.

Figure 6. Presentation and layout is important for any sittning.

The Novisch sittning itself was an entire carnival consolidated into a few hours. As we sat down, a marching drummer band entered and graced us with a 10min performance that tingled our primal foot tapping instincts enough to set the table rocking. From there, the toastmasters took over giving a multilingual welcoming speech, along with roasting the nations who were not represented at the event. When the food serving started, representatives from each nation took to the stage giving speeches attesting to the greatness of their own nation, the university, and the guests themselves. We cruised through three courses, two intermissions, a beat-boxing stand up comedian, and several sing-along songs which elevated the musical term "cacophony" to its own sub-genre. Not that we aspired to be an angelic choir nor had the chance to with me piping up.

Figure 7. A sittning song book compiled by the great Helsingkrona Nation.

After the last tune, we were ushered out of the ballroom to enjoy live music and drinks in the northern wing of our party venue. Finally, we were brought back in for the grand finale, namely two resident DJs living their Swedish House Mafia fantasy for us to enjoy. There was absolutely nothing missing from this event. You got your share of food, drinks, dancing, singing, banter and bonding to last you at least until the next morning. Might not sound like much, but don't underestimate how much partying Sweden expects to get out of you.

For those of you pondering the connection between a Nordic Sittning and a British University Ball, you've probably got a good idea already but believe me when I say the two events are not exactly comparable. At a ball, you usually enjoy a 3 course meal too. Wine and photos are abundant, mingling among the tables is necessary in between toasts, and the Highlanders always have a traditional Céilidh at the end. They are a great way to spend an evening too. However, with the lack of official toastmasters and schnapps songs, there is a loss of continuity and community; a reality that usually culminates into bread rolls flying, wine glasses tipping and vomit spewing. Though that could be an exclusive trait of the Aberdeen University Sports Union Annual Ball; the only one I attended regularly.