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Evening party (karonkka)

As far as I can say, there are two different schools of thought what comes to doctoral party. The protocol says that it is the student's duty to throw a party to honor the examiner(s); they ought to be in the party.

1. Old skool: Have a Big Party: Some people organize a big doctoral party for up to 200 people, with food, speeches (more about speeches below), and entertainment. This is fun, but also pretty expensive.

		2. The Small Party School: Some students prefer an informal party with their best friends, immediate colleagues and family. All that is needed is a table from the student's favourite local restaurant. Participants pay their own expenses (with the possible exception of the examiner(s) and the custos). Yes, there are students who have done the karonkka this way. What you see on the left side is the informal extreme, Esko Kurvinen's party, which takes place in the first table only. Prior to this party, there was a late lunch with the examiner and his wife, Esko's colleague, me (custos), Esko's wife and his mother. Here we sit in a local bar and dring beer with the examiner (left), his wife (middle), and Anna Valtonen who had defended her thesis a few weeks before. Her husband is on the right.

2. The Small Party School: Some students prefer an informal party with their best friends, immediate colleagues and family. All that is needed is a table from the student's favourite local restaurant. Participants pay their own expenses (with the possible exception of the examiner(s) and the custos). Yes, there are students who have done the karonkka this way.

What you see on the left side is the informal extreme, Esko Kurvinen's party, which takes place in the first table only. Prior to this party, there was a late lunch with the examiner and his wife, Esko's colleague, me (custos), Esko's wife and his mother. Here we sit in a local bar and dring beer with the examiner (left), his wife (middle), and Anna Valtonen who had defended her thesis a few weeks before. Her husband is on the right.