May Week

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This article refers to the tradition at the University of Cambridge. For the celebratory week in Argentina, see May Revolution.

May Week is the name used within the University of Cambridge to refer to the week at the end of the academic year. Originally May Week took place in the week during May before year-end exams began. Today, May Week takes place in June, after exams are over. The end of exams is a cause for heavy celebration amongst the students of the University. Highlights of the week include May balls, as well as College events and garden parties.

The major events of May Week 2006 were:

Suicide Sunday
  • The Wyverns Garden Party
  • Queen's Bounce
Monday
  • Trinity May Ball
  • Jesus May Ball
  • Clare May Ball
Tuesday
  • St. John's May Ball
  • Gonville and Caius May Ball
  • Christ's May Ball
Wednesday
  • King's Affair
  • Downing May Ball
  • Peterhouse May Ball/Magdalene May Ball (alternate years)
  • Pembroke June Event
  • Trinity Hall June Event
  • St. Catharine's May Ball
  • Sidney Sussex May Ball
Friday
  • Wolfson College June Event
  • St Edmund's May Ball

During this time, students get an opportunity to relax where some choose to punt on the River Cam (sometimes to Grantchester) taking in the beauty that Cambridge in the summer has to offer.

[edit] Suicide Sunday

Suicide Sunday is the name used at Cambridge University to refer to the Sunday immediately after the end of the summer term (known as Easter Term). By this Sunday, all students have finished exams but most of the results have not been published, so it is traditionally a period of nerves and suspense. The name, however, stems from students attempting to drink themselves to death rather than a high incidence of suicides. Garden parties are hosted by many of the established drinking societies. These tickets are highly sought after and often first choice goes to members of the many college drinking societies. Popular garden parties include those hosted by the Trinity Hall Crescents (usually the first of the day), the Magdalene Wyverns (the biggest, over 1600 guests in 2006), and the Caius Squires. The annual 'Drunken punters' race also takes place, where participants in teams of six must drink 10 bottles of wine whilst punting to dead man's corner (about half way to Grantchester) and back. The winner is the first back with all the wine drunk. This annual event will no longer be happening as punts are often damaged and there are no longer any companies willing to hire out to participants.

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