Teekkari culture
‘Teekkari’ is a distinctive term used in Finland to refer to university students enrolled in institutes of technology. The title of Teekkari is officially bestowed upon students once they have successfully completed their first year and participated in the Wappu eve baptism.
Table of contents:
Teekkari culture encompasses various elements such as the iconic overalls, the Teekkari cap, and significant events like Wappu Eve and Wappu Day. Moreover, the culture also includes student pranks, guilds, sitz parties, and excursions.
The path towards becoming a Teekkari
Newcomers: Students who secure a study place at LUT.
Freshers: Those who undergo baptism during the fresher promotion.
Teekkari: This title is earned after completing the fresher slip, undergoing the fresher baptism & the Teekkari baptism, and singing the Teekkari hymn at midnight on Wappu eve.
The fresher slip is given to all newcomers during the orientation week. It contains a set of tasks that must be accomplished throughout their first year, starting from orientation week until Wappu eve. Only those who fulfill the requirements on the slip become eligible to receive the Teekkari cap and attain the status of a Teekkari.
Additionally, Jaloviina holds a special place in every Teekkari’s heart; like their best friend. Moreover, the Teekkari Hymn holds a unique meaning, as it can only be sung at midnight, though it is not limited to a specific day.
Teekkari cap
Teekkari lakki is worn by students after the first year of their studies from May Day onwards. The cap is used in Finland and Sweden. In Finland, the cap is white and has a tasseled string attached to the right side. The string and tassel are made of black silk.
Rules in nutshell
The period of wearing the cap begins with the “breaking of the Wappu treaty”, which takes place in connection with the cap-laying of the Marjatta Statue (April 30 at 12 noon), and ends with the cap-laying ceremonies held in the autumn. At other times, the cap may be worn with special permission from the Student Union.
Other
The Lappeenranta Teekkari cap (Our Teekkari cap) is heptagonal, and its lining is Karelian red and black. Otherwise, it resembles the Otaniemi cap. The cockade uses the student union’s emblem, the letter aleph, surrounded by a circle of teeth. The cap is issued by the Student Union of Lappeenranta University of Technology (LTKY).
Sitz party Quickstart guide
Toastmaster’s word is law!
You may only leave the table during breaks unless stated otherwise.
No talking during speeches or songs.
You may request songs!
Taking the floor in a nutshell:
- Say “Kilinkolin kilinkolin”
- Introduce yourself
- Give your speech/tell a joke!
- Request a song
- Start a song
- End with “Skål!”
You “Skål!” to the person sitting to your front right, then front left and lastly the one sitting right in front of you.
Kyykkä
History
Kyykkä is an old Karelian village game that has been played in various parts of Karelia and its surrounding areas since the 1800s. After the 1950s, the game is practiced especially in academic contexts at universities, where the game is played several times during studies. In University contexts there are multiple national contests to take part in during a year.
Rules in nutshell
Traditionally, the Kyykkä is a scrimmage between the teams. It requires a playing field with two demarcated playing kyykkä at a distance of ten meters from each other. Wooden game pieces, or Kyykät, are placed in a row at the front borders of the squares, always two on top of each other. The game is played in such a way that each team tries to use throwing sticks to get the opposite side’s Kyykät out of the square over its side or back boundaries.
Detailed rules in English can be found here.
Other
PoWi organizes the PoWiCup Kyykkä tournament in the spring, which is one of the highlights of the spring. The tournament will be held in Lappeenranta in the immediate vicinity of the other campus. Kapital plans to send a team to represent the guild in this event this year as well, and possibly also a Freshman team under the leadership of our Fresher Captain.
KAP (Kapital or Kapital Magic)
Is our guilds offical team that has been playing in Powicup and MM-kyykkä several times
