What is Sitsit?
Sitsit, also known as sits, sitz, sitting, and sitsfest, is a Nordic academic student event where people eat, drink, and sing specific prepared songs.
The party can include a program, and people will give speeches. There is usually a topic or theme at the events, according to which you can or should dress. Sitsit can be organized by a university Guild, any University organization, or even commercial partners. Sitsit is a significant part of Finnish student life. If a student has never been to a Sitsit party in Finland, there is something wrong with this situation.
There are strict traditional rules to be followed at the party, and everyone coming must act according to the etiquette.
Singing. An important part and the main idea of a Sitsit party. You are welcome to suggest a song, but first, ask permission to speak from the toastmaster by raising your hand or in any other arranged way, such as clinking your glass.
Vocabulary
“Skål” means “cheers” (Swedish). After each song, you say “Skål” and clink/raise your glass with the person to your front right, followed by the person to your front left, and finally to the person to your front, and then you take a sip of your drink after you have skåled with all three people. When you skål with another person, remember to look them in the eye (if you don’t look them in the eye, it’s seven years of bad sex).
“Om start” means “from the beginning” (Swedish). This might be called when the singing, usually the melody, has gone wrong. The entire song or a part of it must be restarted.
“Mellan sup” means “break sip” (Swedish). You drink a sip without skåling when you hear this during a song or a speech, and then you will resume normally.
“Tempo” is said when the tempo of the singing is incorrect, usually too slow.
Rules
• The Toastmaster is a person who leads the Sitsit party and the songs. Respect the Toastmasters and always do what they say. Yes, this is a bit of a dictatorship.
• You must follow the dress code if there is any.
• You are not allowed to be late.
• You may give a speech by first standing up and getting everyone’s attention, for example, by saying “kilin kolin” and introducing yourself. You must request a song at the end of a speech.
• You are not allowed to talk, eat, or drink when the Toastmasters or anyone standing up is talking unless the Toastmasters give permission.
• You can’t leave the table without permission from the Toastmaster.
• You may use the bathroom only during the break (unless the situation is dire, in which case, please use the bathroom immediately).
• If you must leave the table very much, stand up, ask the Toastmaster for permission, and propose a song.
• You skål after every song.
• At Sitsit, you don’t applaud by clapping your hands together. You can applaud by drumming the table with your hands.
• Breaking the rules causes punishments.