“What are the Swedes up to?” might be a relevant question for any international student first coming to Lund. Student life expert Fredrik Tersmeden gives the guide to the traditions you need to know about.
Along with the cathedral Lund is 
most famous for its university and diverse student life. What would the town be like without its students?
“If the university hadn’t been established in the 17th century, Lund would now probably be uninteresting and appear rather as a village. One only has to consider that every third citizen of Lund today is a student. Students and student life play such an important role for the perception of the town and most people in Lund couldn’t imagine the town without students.”
What makes student life in Lund so special?
“There are so many great student traditions that wouldn’t exist if students didn’t get involved with their nations, unions and other clubs. Student life in Lund is about participating actively to keep the various tradiations alive.”
Times are changing and so are people. What needs to be done to preserve Lund’s student traditions?
“Lund University is becoming more and more economic and students are supposed not to lose any time during their studies. The worst that could happen is that the students become some kind of „bourgeoises“ by missing out on the student life. But being a student means being wild and maniac. To preserve this ideal, I like to say that sometimes you need to make an effort to have fun. That actually means participating even if you don’t feel like doing it.”
To make sure you know about the most important events of Lund’s student life and tradtitions here is a list of five checkpoints:
- Tandemstafett Each year Lund’s nations and student unions carry out a tandem race from Gothenburg to Lund. The relay starts on an early Spring morning at the Göteburg market place with a lot of music and partying. All students are welcome to participate in this popular student tradition. Transport to Gothenburg is provided by coach.
- Valborg Winters in Sweden can be long and very cold. It’s probably for that reason that students in Lund like to celebrate the beginning of Spring on the last day of April. During that day Lund’s green areas will be filled with students picnicing, listening to music or simply relaxing with friends. In the evening there are sittnings and parties taking place at the nations.
- Spex Spex is a comedy like play that has a 125 years long history. Every play consists of improvising and interaction with the audience. The actors make lots of jokes, sing and dance and make sure that everybody has a good time. There are approximately ten to twelve Spex groups at Lund University but there are also smaller Spex groups among the nations.
- Bal Every nation arranges its own kind of prom dance once a year. It is a really fancy event and therefore the highlight of the nation’s yearly activities. Dressing up and knowledge in ballroom dancing are compulsory.
- Lundakarnevalen If it was 2014 this checkpoint would be number 1: the famous student karneval in Lund. It only takes place every four years and it consists of three days of parties and parades all over the city with people dressing up. Each karneval many thousand visitors come to Lund to be a part of this old tradition.
