Västgöta nation
Encyclopedia
Västgöta Nation, commonly known as Västgöta or VG, is one of the thirteen student nations of Uppsala University
, originally intended for students from Västergötland Province
. It was founded in 1639 and thus is one of Uppsala’s oldest nations. With about 1 200 members Västgöta Nation is one of the smaller nations at Uppsala but still has extensive cultural activities including three choir
s, a theatre
club and an orchestra
.
The nation’s building (Swedish: nationshus) lies along the Fyris
ån and was probably built in 1604, though its cellar is much older. The building survived a city-wide fire in 1702, unusually for central Uppsala. Amongst the building’s former owners was Field Marshal
Lennart Torstenson
, and it has been in the nation’s possession since 1825.
, the pub Djäknen, the weekly fish restaurant Blå (blue), daily soup lunch and weekend fika
.
), Reccegasque (freshmen’s gasque), Damsupé (ladies’ dinner), Herrmiddag (gentlemen’s dinner) and Luciagasque (Saint Lucia’s Day dinner). The autumn’s biggest event is a ball
called the Gåsmiddag or goose dinner, celebrated near Saint Martin’s Day
. The winter/spring term usually includes Reccegasque, a Marsgasque or Kulturgasque (March- or culture-gasque), Damsupé, Herrmiddag and Majmiddag (May dinner). The biggest events are clustered around Walpurgis Night
, including the Valborgsgasque and the Vårbal (spring ball).
Djäknen is the nation’s pub, located in the oldest part of the nation’s building, the mediaeval cellar. It has a cosy and intimate milieu and a wide selection of beers and is open Tuesday to Saturday.
Västgöta is also known for its good food and since 1998 has presented a fish restaurant Blå (Blue) open Thursday evenings.
Lunch consists of soup and is open weekdays between 12.00 and 14.00. Weekends the nation is host to fika
between 11.30 and 15.00.
, became the nation’s first inspektor
. Lars-Gunnar Larsson, professor of Finno-Ugric languages
is the current inspektor.
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
, originally intended for students from Västergötland Province
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
. It was founded in 1639 and thus is one of Uppsala’s oldest nations. With about 1 200 members Västgöta Nation is one of the smaller nations at Uppsala but still has extensive cultural activities including three choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
s, a theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
club and an orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
.
The nation’s building (Swedish: nationshus) lies along the Fyris
Fyris
Fyrisån is a river in the Swedish province of Uppland, which passes through the city of Uppsala and ends in Lake Mälaren....
ån and was probably built in 1604, though its cellar is much older. The building survived a city-wide fire in 1702, unusually for central Uppsala. Amongst the building’s former owners was Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Lennart Torstenson
Lennart Torstenson
Lennart Torstenson, Count of Ortala, Baron of Virestad , was a Swedish Field Marshal and military engineer.-Early career:He was born at Forstena in Västergötland - he always wrote his name Linnardt Torstenson...
, and it has been in the nation’s possession since 1825.
Activities
The nation divides its activities into two main categories, culture and the ‘club-office’ (Swedish: klubbverket). Cultural activities include choirs (mixed choir, men’s choir and ladies choir), theatre club, orchestra and sports club. The second category includes gasquesGask
Gask, gasque, a kind of Swedish student party which starts with a more or less formal dinner. The word is believed to originate from the card game vira, popular in the 19th century....
, the pub Djäknen, the weekly fish restaurant Blå (blue), daily soup lunch and weekend fika
Fika
Fika is both a Swedish verb and noun that roughly means "to drink coffee/tea/squash," usually accompanied by something sweet.-Definition:Fika is a social institution in Sweden; it means having a break, most often a coffeebreak, with one's colleagues, friends, date, or family. The word "fika" can...
.
Club office
A gasque is traditional formal student dinner followed by an afterparty known as a släpp. In the autumn term these usually include a Kräftgasque (crayfish gasqueCrayfish
Crayfish, crawfish, or crawdads – members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea – are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related...
), Reccegasque (freshmen’s gasque), Damsupé (ladies’ dinner), Herrmiddag (gentlemen’s dinner) and Luciagasque (Saint Lucia’s Day dinner). The autumn’s biggest event is a ball
Ball (dance)
A ball is a formal dance. The word 'ball' is derived from the Latin word "ballare", meaning 'to dance'; the term also derived into "bailar", which is the Spanish and Portuguese word for dance . In Catalan it is the same word, 'ball', for the dance event.Attendees wear evening attire, which is...
called the Gåsmiddag or goose dinner, celebrated near Saint Martin’s Day
St. Martin's Day
St. Martin's Day, also known as the Feast of St. Martin, Martinstag or Martinmas, the Feast of St Martin of Tours or Martin le Miséricordieux, is a time for feasting celebrations. This is the time when autumn wheat seeding is completed. Historically, hiring fairs were held where farm laborers...
. The winter/spring term usually includes Reccegasque, a Marsgasque or Kulturgasque (March- or culture-gasque), Damsupé, Herrmiddag and Majmiddag (May dinner). The biggest events are clustered around Walpurgis Night
Walpurgis Night
Walpurgis Night is a traditional spring festival on 30 April or 1 May in large parts of Central and Northern Europe. It is often celebrated with dancing and with bonfires. It is exactly six months from All Hallows' Eve.-Name:...
, including the Valborgsgasque and the Vårbal (spring ball).
Djäknen is the nation’s pub, located in the oldest part of the nation’s building, the mediaeval cellar. It has a cosy and intimate milieu and a wide selection of beers and is open Tuesday to Saturday.
Västgöta is also known for its good food and since 1998 has presented a fish restaurant Blå (Blue) open Thursday evenings.
Lunch consists of soup and is open weekdays between 12.00 and 14.00. Weekends the nation is host to fika
Fika
Fika is both a Swedish verb and noun that roughly means "to drink coffee/tea/squash," usually accompanied by something sweet.-Definition:Fika is a social institution in Sweden; it means having a break, most often a coffeebreak, with one's colleagues, friends, date, or family. The word "fika" can...
between 11.30 and 15.00.
Friend Nations
- Västgöta nationVästgöta Nation, LundThe Västgöta Nation, or locally VG's, is a student society of Lund University in Sweden.The nation traces its history to 1669. The nation was intended for students from the Västergötland province in Sweden...
, LundLund-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund... - Nylands NationNylands NationNylands Nation is one the 15 student nations at the University of Helsinki, Finland's oldest, Swedish-speaking and established in 1643 at The Royal Academy of Turku. In 1828, the Academy moved to Helsinki taking the name "University" and Nylands Nation moved there along with the other Nations...
, HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is... - Keskisuomalainen OsakuntaKeskisuomalainen OsakuntaKeskisuomalainen Osakunta is one of the 15 student nations at the University of Helsinki, Finnish-speaking and established in 1931....
, Helsinki
Inspectors
In 1663 Ericus Odhelius, professor of theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, became the nation’s first inspektor
Inspektor
Inspektor, Swedish for Inspector, is the largely honorary chairmanship of a student nations in Lund and Uppsala universities in Sweden. The Inspector has a supervisory role his/her nation and presides over most important functions. It is a quite prestigious role to be invited to undertake as it...
. Lars-Gunnar Larsson, professor of Finno-Ugric languages
Finno-Ugric languages
Finno-Ugric , Finno-Ugrian or Fenno-Ugric is a traditional group of languages in the Uralic language family that comprises the Finno-Permic and Ugric language families....
is the current inspektor.
| Inspektor Inspektor Inspektor, Swedish for Inspector, is the largely honorary chairmanship of a student nations in Lund and Uppsala universities in Sweden. The Inspector has a supervisory role his/her nation and presides over most important functions. It is a quite prestigious role to be invited to undertake as it... s of Västgöta nation Västgöta nation Västgöta Nation, commonly known as Västgöta or VG, is one of the thirteen student nations of Uppsala University, originally intended for students from Västergötland Province. It was founded in 1639 and thus is one of Uppsala’s oldest nations... at Uppsala university Uppsala University Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of... |
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| Ericus Odhelius 1663-1665 Petrus Fontelius 1665-1669 Samuel Skunck 1670-1682 Johannes Bilberg 1683-1692 Elias Obrecht 1692-1698 Johannes Palmroot 1698-1727 Petrus Schyllberg 1727-1735 Elias Frondin 1736-1747 Engelbert Halenius 1747-1753 Martin Strömer 1753-1756 Carl Aurivillius 1757-1786 Jonas Sidrén 1786-1788 Pehr Fabian Aurivillius 1788-1800 Johan Winbom 1800-1826 Sven Lundblad 1826-1830 Olof Kolmodin 1830-1838 Anders Erik Knös 1838-1862 Anders Fredrik Beckman 1862-1864 Per Hedenius 1864-1889 Johan August Ekman Johan August Ekman Johan August Ekman was Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, 1900-1913.He was a student at the University of Uppsala, and was ordained priest in that city 1873. Thereafter he worked as a vicar and held other church offices in Uppsala... 1889-1898 Erik Berggren 1899-1909 Herman Lundström 1909-1916 Rudolf Kjellén Rudolf Kjellén Johan Rudolf Kjellén was a Swedish political scientist and politician who first coined the term "geopolitics". His work was influenced by Friedrich Ratzel... 1917-1922 Richard Ekblom 1923-1939 Gunnar Rudberg 1939-1945 Elias Melin 1945-1956 Ingemar Hedenius Ingemar Hedenius Per Arvid Ingemar Hedenius was a Swedish philosopher. He was Professor of Practical Philosophy at the University of Uppsala . He was a famous opponent of organised Christianity... 1956-? John-Erik Thun 1972-1989 Adam Taube 1989-1998 Lars-Gunnar Larsson ?- |