May Week
- This article is about 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 a period at the end of the academic year. Originally May Week took place in the week during May before year-end exams began.[1] Nowadays, May Week takes place in June after exams, and is a cause for great celebration amongst the students of the University. Highlights of the week include Bumps races, May Balls, June Events and garden parties.
History
Originally May Week festivities were held in May, in the final week leading up to the year end exams, but in 1882 the May boat races (known as the May Bumps) were moved to June and the rest of the activities followed suit.[2]
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, ironically refers to the celebration that students haven't committed suicide due to stress of exams.[citation needed] The event is for current students of the University of Cambridge but is frequented by former students that indulge in the student lifestyle.
May Week 2015
| May balls | June events | Garden parties | Other events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 12th |
The Greene King Twenty20 Varsity Match and Varsity Garden Party |
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| Wednesday 17th | ||||
| Friday 19th | ||||
| Saturday 20th |
May Week 2014
| May balls | June events | Garden parties | Other events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 13th |
The Cambridge Union Society Garden Party Science Societies' Garden Party |
The Hawks' Event | ||
| Saturday 14th |
Cambridge University Law Society Garden Party The Gentlemen Patricians' Garden Party The Gentlemen Wyverns' Garden Party |
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| Suicide Sunday 15th |
Catfish May Ball |
Murray Edwards Garden Party Sidney Sussex Boat Club Garden Party The Crescents' Garden Party The Gentlemen Squires' Garden Party The Idlers' Garden Party Trinity College Science Society Garden Party |
Downing Tribal Barbecue | |
| Monday 16th | ||||
| Tuesday 17th | ||||
| Wednesday 18th | ||||
| Thursday 19th |
Brighty's Garden Party Marshall Society Garden Party |
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| Friday 20th |
GU Summer Ball |
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| Saturday 21st |
May Week 2013
| May balls | June events | Garden parties | Other events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 14th |
The Cambridge Union Society Garden Party Science Societies' Garden Party |
The Hawks' Event | ||
| Saturday 15th |
The Lucy Cavendish College June Event 2013 |
Cambridge University Law Society Garden Party The Gentlemen Patricians' Garden Party The Gentlemen Wyverns' Garden Party |
||
| Suicide Sunday 16th |
Sidney Sussex Boat Club Garden Party The Crescents' Garden Party The Gentlemen Squires' Garden Party The Idlers' Garden Party |
Downing Tribal Barbecue | ||
| Monday 17th | ||||
| Tuesday 18th | ||||
| Wednesday 19th | ||||
| Thursday 20th |
Brighty's Garden Party Marshall Society Garden Party |
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| Friday 21st |
GU Summer Ball |
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| Saturday 22nd |
May Week 2012
| May balls | June events | Garden parties | Other events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 14th | ||||
| Friday 15th |
Downing Lady Orchids Garden Party |
The Hawks' Event | ||
| Saturday 16th |
CUSU LGBT Garden Party The Gentlemen Patricians' Garden Party |
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| Suicide Sunday 17th |
Murray Edwards Garden Party Sidney Sussex Boat Club Garden Party The Crescents' Garden Party The Idlers' Garden Party The Squires' Garden Party |
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| Monday 18th | ||||
| Tuesday 19th |
'Without Borders' Garden Party Cambridge University Punting Society Garden Party |
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| Wednesday 20th | ||||
| Thursday 21st |
Marshall Society Garden Party Newnham MCR Garden Party Cambridge Student Liberal Democrats Garden Party |
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| Friday 22nd |
Darwin May Ball |
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| Saturday 23rd |
May Week 2011
| May balls | June events | Garden parties | Other events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 17th |
Downing Lady Orchids Garden Party The Wilberforce Society Annual Garden Party |
The Hawks' Event | ||
| Saturday 18th |
The Gentlemen Patricians' Garden Party |
|||
| Suicide Sunday 19th |
The Crescents' Garden Party |
|||
| Monday 20th | ||||
| Tuesday 21st |
Newnham JCR Garden Party |
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| Wednesday 22nd | ||||
| Thursday 23rd |
CUSU LGBT Garden Party |
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| Friday 24th |
May Week 2010
| May balls | June events | Garden parties | Other events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 10th | ||||
| Friday 11th | ||||
| Saturday 12th | ||||
| Suicide Sunday 13th | ||||
| Monday 14th | ||||
| Tuesday 15th | ||||
| Wednesday 16th | ||||
| Thursday 17th | ||||
| Friday 18th | ||||
| Saturday 19th |
May Week 2009
| May balls | June events | Garden parties | Other events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 11th | ||||
| Friday 12th | ||||
| Saturday 13th | ||||
| Suicide Sunday 14th | ||||
| Monday 15th | ||||
| Tuesday 16th | ||||
| Wednesday 17th | ||||
| Thursday 18th | ||||
| Friday 19th | ||||
| Saturday 20th |
May Week 2008
| May balls | June events | Garden parties | Other events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 12th | ||||
| Friday 13th | ||||
| Saturday 14th | ||||
| Suicide Sunday (15th) | ||||
| Monday 16th | ||||
| Tuesday 17th | ||||
| Wednesday 18th | ||||
| Thursday 19th | ||||
| Friday 20th | ||||
| Saturday 21st |
May Week 2007
| May balls | June events | Garden parties | Other events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday |
Homerton May Ball Robinson May Ball |
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| Saturday | ||||
| Suicide Sunday | ||||
| Monday |
Clare May Ball Jesus May Ball Trinity May Ball |
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| Tuesday |
St. John's May Ball |
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| Wednesday |
Pembroke May Ball |
Trinity Hall June Event |
King's Affair | |
| Thursday | ||||
| Friday |
Corpus Christi May Ball St Edmund's May Ball |
Wolfson College June Event |
May Week 2006
| May balls | June events | Garden parties | Other events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suicide Sunday |
Emmanuel June Event |
Queens' Bounce | ||
| Monday |
Clare May Ball Jesus May Ball Trinity May Ball |
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| Tuesday |
Christ's May Ball Gonville and Caius May Ball St. John's May Ball |
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| Wednesday |
Peterhouse May Ball St. Catharine's May Ball |
Pembroke June Event Trinity Hall June Event |
King's Affair | |
| Thursday | ||||
| Friday |
St Edmund's May Ball |
Wolfson College June Event |
References
- ^ "May Week: balls, boats and bubbly". King's College, Cambridge. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ "We had a Ball" - William Ham Bevan. Cambridge Alumni Magazine, Issue 72 (Easter 2014)
