26.5.

Rehearsal for the conferment of degrees at 2 p.m at the Concert Hall.

At the rehearsal the Conferment of Degrees will be explained thoroughly. All Doctors, Honorary Doctors and Promoters should attend the rehearsal.

Sword Sharpening Display at 7 p.m. in the University Main Building

In the programme there is a welcome speech, music performance and dinner. Before sharpening the swords there will be a dance performance and the Speech to the Sword. The swords will be sharpened using grindstones from Vanhalinna manor which belongs to the Turku University. The student marshals will wet the grindstones with sparkling wine. The turning of the grindstones will be done by the Doctors and their escorts. The swords are sharpened in the same order as the Doctors are promoted.

27.5.

Conferment Ceremony at 12 noon at the Concert Hall

Promoter, degree recipients and the professorate will enter and leave the Concert Hall in an Academic Procession. The order of the Procession is: chancellors, rectors, professorate, promoters, Doctors honoris causa and Doctors in conferring order. The programme of the Conferment of Degrees will include speeches and then all Doctors honoris causa and Doctors will receive their hats, swords and diplomas. There will also be music in the Conferment Ceremony. The Academic Procession will leave the Concert Hall in a reversed order: first the promoters, then Doctors honoris causa and Doctors.

Academic Procession from the Concert Hall to the Cathedral around 3.30 p.m

After a short break the Academic Procession will reassemble and head for the Service in the Cathedral. The mounted police will ride and the flag-bearers walk in front of the Procession.

Service at the Cathedral around 4 p.m.

Seats will be reserved for the Procession in the front and in the middle of the Cathedral. Relatives and the audience may seat themselves freely in any available seat. At the entrance to the Cathedral, the swords will be handed over to the student marshals, who will return them to the Doctors after the Service.

Laying of the wreaths

The representatives of the degree recipients lay wreaths of conifer sprigs on the grave of Porthan and on the soldiers´ graves.

Degree Ceremony Banquet at the Turku Castle at 7.30 p.m.

A festive dinner will be served in a banqueting hall at the Turku Castle. During the evening the following speeches will be given:

- Welcome Speech
- Speech in Honour of the University and Science
- Reply on behalf of the University
- Speech in Honour of the Promoters
- Reply on behalf of the Promoters
- Speech in Honour of the Doctors honoris causa
- Reply on behalf of the Doctors honoris causa
- Speech in Honour of the Doctors
- Reply on behalf of the Doctors
- Speech in Honour of the Companion

Ball at the Turku VPK Festival Hall around 12 p.m.

The ball will begin with a Polonaise and then the hall fills up with dancers. The evening will then continue with other dances and end at daybreak with a Speech to the sun.

28.5.

Boat trip from 11 a.m.

We will have a cruise to Naantali where a lunch is served.