Annual Celebration

Annual Celebration (or vujut) is the most important and prestigious celebration of every student association. It is an academic dinner party where the association’s members, alumni, partners and invited guests gather together to celebrate the organization’s founding, aging and continued activities. Annual celebrations stand out from ordinary student events with their dignity: they usually include a multi-course dinner, speeches, songs and other traditional program numbers.

OTiT traditionally organizes annual celebrations every five years and during jubilee years, which are powers of two (e.g. 32). In 2025, OTiT will organize for the first time in its history interim annual celebrations to honor its 37th year of operation.

Annual celebrations and the following sillis are usually intended for second-year students and older members. However, freshmen can participate in the annual celebration atmosphere during the celebration week events and as workforce for the annual celebrations. Working as workforce offers three (3) freshman points for participating in annual celebrations, plus additional points based on hours worked.

Course of the celebration day

The annual celebration day often begins with a cocktail event or “kokkari”, where invited guests leave their greetings to the association’s current board. The cocktail event usually invites representatives from other subject associations, the association’s former boards, honorary members, partners and other actors. As the name suggests, the event offers drinks and small snacks.

After the cocktail event, the day culminates in a celebration dinner. At the main celebration, a three-course dinner is usually enjoyed seasoned with appropriate refreshments. In addition to dinner, the main celebration features speeches, performances and awards. In addition to these, an essential part of the main celebration is the communal singing of drinking songs familiar from sitsit, led by ceremony masters. You can also make song requests to the ceremony masters if you wish.

After the main celebration, the celebration venue moves to continue the evening at the after-party, whose location will be revealed during the evening. The after-party is the relaxed part of the annual celebration day, so you can loosen your bow tie and enjoy the evening’s atmosphere more freely! The after-party offers drinks, small snacks and performances or other entertainment.

The day after the annual celebrations, a herring breakfast or sillis is organized, where tired celebrants are offered relief from the intense celebration day in the form of breakfast, company and refreshments.

Annual celebration etiquette

As a formal occasion, annual celebrations follow certain etiquette rules that are good to consider when preparing for the celebration and during the celebration. However, it’s important to remember that what makes the annual celebration dignified are primarily the celebration guests and good atmosphere. Etiquette is meant as a guide whose knowledge helps understand traditions related to the celebration and thus get the most out of the magical event. Following etiquette shouldn’t be nervously worried about – good manners will get you far.

Behavior

During speeches, remarks and performances, the speaker and performer must be respected. During these times, it’s not appropriate to talk, eat or drink. Particularly disapproved is getting up from one’s seat during performances or speeches. Returning to one’s seat is courteous to time according to good manners to the end of the performance or remark. After speeches, it’s customary to raise a toast. Toasting is done by first raising your glass to the person seated diagonally to your right, then to the person diagonally to your left, and finally to the person opposite of you. It is good manners to make eye contact with the person toward whom you raise your glass.

Dress code

The dress code for annual celebrations is formal wear: white tie, or a dark suit with academic decorations. In accordance with the dress code, one may wear a tailcoat, a dark suit, an evening gown made of festive material, or a full-length formal gown. The dress code can be tastefully adapted to suit one’s self-expression.

According to etiquette, long hair should not be left flowing freely. Hair that reaches the shoulders or longer must be tied up.

Tailcoat or dark suit

A tailcoat consists of a black, front-open tailcoat jacket, black trousers, a white dress shirt for tailcoat, a white waistcoat, and a white bow tie. A white pocket square is worn with the tailcoat.

The tailcoat can be replaced with a dark suit if preferred. The suit should be black, dark blue or dark grey; the collar shirt white, and the tie subdued. Personality can be added to the suit with a pocket square, and variation can be achieved by choosing a bow tie instead of a tie. Additional festiveness can be achieved with a waistcoat made from the same material as the suit.

With a tailcoat or dark suit, appropriate shoes are black patent leather or well-polished leather shoes.

Evening dress or formal gown

An evening dress or full-length formal gown should be made of festive material, and its openness should reflect the celebration’s dignified style. The dress’s details and accessories can be freely chosen with elegance in mind. If desired, the ensemble can be complemented with, for example, more striking jewelry, scarves, or long gloves than usual. A formal bag should match the outfit, be small, and have no shoulder strap.

Shoes worn with an evening dress or full-length formal gown should be closed-toe.

Academic honors

Academic decorations are worn on the left side of the chest. When wearing decorations, a pocket square is not used.

Use of subject association ribbon

Members of Oulun Tietoteekkarit ry have the right to wear the guild’s association ribbon with their attire. The ribbon is worn according to the guild’s emblem regulations, below the representative ribbons of OYY and OTY. The ribbon’s yellow stripe must be at the bottom.

With a tailcoat, the ribbon is worn running diagonally down from the right shoulder to the left. The ribbon is worn under the vest, and when dressed in a dark suit, it runs over the tie. With an evening or formal gown, the association ribbon can be worn either as a rosette on the left chest or running from the right shoulder down to the left. The ribbon should never touch bare skin.

Below you can find Oulun Teekkariyhdistys’s instructions for the proper use of the ribbon.