Teekkari culture is an important aspect of studying technology. Teekkari culture is, above all, about community spirit and traditions, such as Wappu, sitsis, kyykkä and the singing culture.
Teekkaris have a long history: Technology education began on a university level in Finland towards the end of the 19th century. Teekkaris first arrived in Tampere in 1965 as a unit of the Otaniemi University of Technology, and in 1972, the Tampere University of Technology was founded.
This website gives a short introduction to some concepts closely related to being a teekkari. It is worth remembering, however, that it is impossible to verbally explain everything about the teekkari culture – you simply have to live it.
The Teekkari cap
The most visible teekkari insignia is the teekkari cap. The jaunty tasselled cap was adopted from Sweden by students of technology towards the end of the 19th century. Following various developments, there are now four different versions in use: the conical version of the Oulu teekkaris, the heptagonal cap of the Lappeenranta teekkaris, the round cap of the Turku teekkaris and the hexagonal cap used by the Otaniemi and Tampere teekkaris.
Use of Tampere teekkari cap
Tampere teekkaris put their cap on on the night of 30 April when the Suomen neito statue also receives a cap. The cap may be used freely in the summer until it is laid to winter rest on 30 September. In the winter, the cap may only be used with special permission. The teekkari cap is an almost holy object to teekkaris. However, it is not intended to be kept on the shelf but to be used frequently and with dignity.
You may apply for a permission to use the teekkari cap by filling out the electronic form at the bottom of the page and sending it to the board member in charge of teekkari affairs or the Secretary General. The teekkari cap is a trademark and thus may not be used by others for commercial purposes, for example.
Ordering of teekkari caps
Teekkari caps are fitted, ordered and paid during the academic year. A cap ordered and paid early is cheaper than one paid at the last minute. The fittings are handled at Paula’s desk in the student union office. Teekkari cap is available for degree students and exchange students that are studying a whole academic year in Finland. To get teekkari cap on Wappu you are required to have 300 fuksi points. Students’ that have less than 300 fuksipoints will get their teekkari caps after Mother’s Day (mid May)
Note! Once the cap has been ordered, you can not change to a different size, so be careful when fitting. The order is binding.
Order teekkari cap here.
Application for permission to use the cap
If you need to use your teekkari cap between 1 October and 30 April, please fill out the form. Explain the reason for the need to use the cap, such as an excursion or a promotional trip.
You will receive a reply to your application within a couple of days via email.
Singing culture
Teekkaris love to sing in sauna evenings and everywhere else. Of course it is nice if you can actually sing, but it is more important to sing along even if you don’t exactly hit all the notes. The more you sing, the better you will become. They say singing teekkari songs is about strength not skill. Teekkaris would rather just sing than do it well! You can learn the correct tunes in the guild and teekkari section song evenings and saunas under senior academics’ guidance and you can look at the lyrics in the song book.
The most popular teekkari songs in Tampere are included in the Rasputin song book, edited by PerinneSeura. It can be purchased at your guild, for example.
Many familiar songs have developed new lyrics with teekkaris and you can hear them at sauna evenings, excursions and sitsis. Rumour has it that some have ended up as lullabies. There is a song for every occasion: drinking songs, international songs, ballads, nevergreens and some nearly censorship-worthy ditties which you should probably avoid singing in the public…
Teekkari hymn
The Teekkari hymn is a theme tune for all teekkaris and always sung at midnight when teekkaris are gathered. Singing style varies from one place to another. Outside Tampere, Teekkari hymn is sung in the local manner when teekkaris from Tampere are a minority.
Words for Teekkari hymn are:
“Yö kuin sielu
teekkarin on pimiä,
takajoukko nukkuu vain,
nukkuu vain.
Tarhapöllön ääni kimiä
kuuluu pappilasta päin,
kuuluu päin.
Ja taas ja siis
ja 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.”
Ikuisen teekkarin laulu (Song of the forever teekkari)
The habit of singing the Ikuisen teekkarin laulu as the last official song before the going gets too wild has landed in Tampere. The song starts with a silence and is sung with the reverence it calls for. The last verse is sung standing up and the last chorus with vigour.
Union’s gong
Teekkari Union of Tampere has a gong that can be used in bigger annual galas by the person distributing singing turns. You can borrow the gong by contacting the board member in charge of the teekkari culture.
Teekkari tempaus
Teekkari tempaus is an event that aims to raise public awareness of a certain (universally or locally) important issue. However, it is not a demonstration. Tempaus is associated with good-spirited distribution of information and activity with a teekkari fashion.
With tempaus, teekkaris aim to make a difference in the world but with a teekkari twist: with a twinkle in the eye, yet in earnest. Teekkari spirit is used to attract the attention of the general public to notice a fault or to change attitudes. Money may be collected for a good cause.