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.
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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. 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.
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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 Magdalene Wyverns (the biggest, over 1600 guests in 2006), the Trinity Hall Crescents (usually the first of the day, starting at 9am). The annual 'Drunken Punters' was also a staple event, where participants in teams of six had to drink 10 bottles of wine whilst punting to dead man's corner (about half way to Grantchester) and back. The winner was the first to return with all wine consumed. As of 2006, this event has been suspended due to a high incidence of punt damage.
Many colleges and societies have garden parties on during May Week. These events are usually free with free drink and/or snacks.
| Friday | Saturday | Suicide Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robinson May Ball | Emmanuel May Ball | St. John's May Ball | King's Affair | Wolfson College June Event | |||
| Jesus May Ball | Queens' May Ball | Magdalene May Ball | St Edmund's May Ball | ||||
| Clare May Ball | Pembroke May Ball | Corpus Christi May Ball | |||||
| Trinity May Ball | Trinity Hall June Event | ||||||
| Downing May Ball |
| Suicide Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel June Event | Trinity May Ball | St. John's May Ball | King's Affair | Wolfson College June Event | |
| Queens' Bounce | Jesus May Ball | Gonville and Caius May Ball | Peterhouse May Ball | St Edmund's May Ball | |
| Clare May Ball | Christ's May Ball | Pembroke June Event | |||
| Trinity Hall June Event | |||||
| St. Catharine's May Ball | |||||
| Sidney Sussex May Ball [1] |