The overall

Originally it was the students of technology who started using overalls outside their engineering workshops at parties and other less formal happenings. Not that long after this, in the year 1974, SHS started using a blue overall, but the colour was changed already the next year into the present white. However; your Hanken overall rarely stays white for very long after you’ve gotten hold of i beacuse naturally you don’t have to worry about where and when to sit, crawl, sleep, swim – you name it. Everyone can surely remember the good old times when you were younger and could splash about in the the muck without a worry on your mind regarding your clothes (although your mother may not feel the same way about these times…).

Decorating it

The overall should, and will, be covered in other colours than different shade of spilled beer, cider and other things which very effectively sticks onto it when crawling around at parties. A colourful way of decorating your overall is the so called decals (halarmärke). There are certain rules about how to wear these on the overall. Starting from the left, you should begin with putting your first name on the left side of your breast. The technique in which you achieve this is free; you may sew, write or in any other creative way scrawl it there as long as it sticks.

If join CN, you may attach your title on the right side of your breast. CN also has year badges which are to be sewn in chronological order on the left sleeve. The various student union badges belong on the right sleeve, SHS on top and then the others you may acquire from students at other schools beneath it. Then there are decals which belong on you back, for example IHD, ÅFK and CN have their own which you get if you join. Good to know is that you can buy most of Hankens decals at IB. Another fun way to acquire them is to get to know other students and then trade some of yours for some of theirs. This is way it might come in handy to carry a few extra badges with you in your pocket.

Another tradition is to trade parts, like sleeves, pockets and trouser legs, of the overall with other students. This used to be a symbol of having practised some form of exercise between the sheets with one another but these liberal traditions have unfortunately outlived its day, today overall parts are exchanged for lesser achievements. For this purpose carrying scissors may come in handy, just try avoiding hurting yourself. A needle and some thread is also recommended, as it isn’t too pleasant to walk back home in -25C without one sleeve or pants leg.

During the many adventures with the white-ish lot it isn’t unusual for other tings to catch onto the overall as well. Things like bottle openers and a so called capsduk usually turn out to be useful. The Capsduk is a towel you can find at bars and might get your hands on if you ask the bartender nicely or otherwise find some other way. Some kind of adjustable wrench is also recommended if you get the urge to take home a souvenir of some sort from somewhere. In the morning you might also be thankful for a toothbrush when you wake up someplace that isn’t home.

Wash it? Absolutely not!!!

Read the following very carefully. Your overall should never be washed. The more your overall stinks and the more dirt you get on it, the more respect you earn, this of course proving you to be a party animal of the highest rank. In emergencies there is one approved way to get your overall cleaned up, and this is first pouring some liquid soap on yourself and then jumping into the sea. But note that this is only to be used in emergencies of the likes that the dance floor clears up the moment you step onto it due to the stink.

Overall parties

If you’re wondering when to wear your overall, the answer is very clear: it is used at overall parties, absolutely not at general parties. The most important of these is Vappen, from Valborgsmässoafton (30th April) until early morning at 2nd of May. This is the weekend when you come in contact with the nature for the first time after the long and cold winter, what other piece of clothing would be better? Furthermore the overall is very good as a protective layer at the sillis e.g. after the Årsfest. If you go to an overall party you should definitely wear your overall, only boring people don’t.
There are many overall parties all around Finland. These are funny and slightly crazy events, for instance Akateeminen startti (Kuopio), Hämeenkadun appro (Tampere) and Kauppakadun appro (Jyväskylä) which are arranged between September and October. Early in the year the Goom-cruise fills the boats to Sweden with students in overalls for a whole week. When Pampas is celebrating their independence day it is a tradition to take a trip up to Vasa and meet our collegues at the branch of Hanken over there. Finally there’s Ylonz and Akateeminen Wartti in April here in Helsinki. And of course you get the privilege to wear your overall much more frequently e.g. if you join CN or become a tutor.

Abschluss

When you finally get your hands on your own overall you should remember these details when you start using it. Following the instructions and traditions guarantees you many unforgettable (or forgettable, depending on the amount of alcohol) overall parties and a feeling of solidarity towards everyone wearing the same overall. When you’ve got your degree from Hanken and have ceased to whirl about you can still continue using your overall, all that is needed is some imagination. If nothing else, you end up with very nutritious mould in you compost after having buried your dear overall there.