Hello guys!
In my previous blog I talked about student life in Linköping and i briefly mentioned Kårallen and Karavall, but what exactly is Kravall?
Well… it’s nothing more than one of the best traditions in LiU! Kravall is a Swedish term that literally translates to “riot”, and in this case it’s the name of the parties that are organised in Kårallen.
I’m sure that by now you know about overalls, but let me give you a crash course. Overalls are a symbol of Swedish Universities because in the 19th century engineering students used to wear them as work clothes, and over time they became a symbol of unity and pride! Each department and programme has it’s own colours and distinguishing features, and through this you will always know who your programme-mates are!
For example, since I’m in the department of Science and Engineering, our colours are red and yellow. Something really particular is that we get the overalls with one colour (red or yellow) and then we have an overall buddy with the other colour. You will have to cut your overall in half, switch one part with your buddy and sew them back together!
Here’s what my overall looks like:
But back to Kravall!
Approximately once a week, a different student organisations organise a party where there is one and only dress code: your overall. Historically, these parties were initially organised in Ryds herrgård (HG, in Ryd!) and they were only for the technical departments, but over time they became open to everyone and now are one of the most beautiful symbols of LiU!
There are usually two different dance floors, and during the summer there will also be a stage outside! And talking about summer… There is the one and only Utekravallem, which is a party held in May and usually symbolises the last big “riot” of the academic year. It’s a tradition that dates back to 1991 and it’s held just outside of Kårallen. Trust me when I tell you that it’s a MUST! There were several stages and last year, one of them was reserved for Otto Knows! It’s a huge party since there can be up to 4000 people, so when the date starts getting close, make sure to keep an eye on your Orbi app for tickets!
Are you ready to riot?
-V
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