Encaenia Procession 2015

From the Oxford English Dictionary....

EncaeniaLine breaks: En|cae¦nia

Pronunciation: /ɛnˈsiːnɪə/

Definition of Encaenia in English:

noun

An annual celebration at Oxford University in memory of founders and benefactors.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

Origin

Late 17th century: via Latin from Greek enkainia 'dedication festival' (based on kainos 'new').

2015 Encaenia

For everything you want to know about the Encaenia, go to: 

www.ox.ac.uk/news-and-events/The-University-Year/Encaenia

 It is held annually on the Wednesday of ninth week during Trinity Term. The ceremony starts at 11:30 am at the Sheldonian.  The procession passes through Radcliffe Square at 11:20 am.  

Even the police are a bit star struck with the distinguished recipients

On the morning of the ceremony, the Heads of Colleges, university dignitaries and the honorands assemble, in full academic dress, in one of the colleges near the Radcliffe Camera.  There they  enjoy Lord Crewe's benefaction of peaches, strawberries and champagne. They then walk in procession down Brasenose Lane through Radcliffe Square to the Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street.

This year's honorands were: 

 1. Professor Sir Richard Evans, Regius Professor of History emeritus and President of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge. He is best known for his work on the modern history of Germany. 

 2. Dame Hilary Mantel, novelist, the author of fourteen books, including Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies. 

3. Professor Ruth Simmons, former President of Brown University from 2001 to 2012, and continues there as Professor of Comparative Literature and Africana Studies. 

4. Professor Dame Ann Dowling, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cambridge, and President of the Royal Academy of Engineering. 

5. Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, OM, Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London. 

6. Jessye Norman, operatic soprano and recitalist who has performed around the world.  She was not able to attend this year.

Professor Wallace Broecker was also be awarded an honorary degree. Professor Broecker was due to receive the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, last year, but was unable to attend the ceremony.

The post ceremony luncheon was held in the library at All Soul's College

The Garden Party was held at Wadham College in the fellow's garden and hosted by Vice Chancellor Andrew Hamilton and his wonderful wife Jenny.

Recipe for Strawberry and Cream: 

Ingredients: 

Strawberries
sugar
Cream

Wash and remove the top of strawberries.  Serve strawberries in bowls at room temperature.  Sprinkle some sugar  on top and cover with fresh cream. Enjoy!

Encaenia 2014 -- Dress-Up Day at Oxford

One of the many reasons I love Oxford is it's infinite layers of tradition. Yesterday was the Encaenia at Oxford -- the day the University awards honorary degrees to distinguished men and women and commemorates its benefactors.  For over 250 years the Encaenia has begun with Heads of Colleges and other University dignitaries assembling in full academic dress in a nearby college to enjoy Lord Crewe's Benefaction (peaches, strawberries and champagne), after which they walk in a procession to the Sheldonian Theatre.  

 

The honorands this year were: The Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori; Sir Anish Kapoor (Sculptor of Chicago's beloved "Bean" or  Cloud Gate sculpture); Mr. Robert Silvers (founder of the New York Review of Books); Professor Jean-Marie Lehn; and Sir Harrison Birtwistle.

 

In Oxford, it is sometime hard to tell which decade or century it is.

 The Sheldonian Theatre has been used for the Encaenia since it was completed in 1669. 

The tourists were clearly enjoying watching dress-up day in Oxford. 

The Encaenia Garden Party (or the Venerable Wizards Party as I call it) was held later in the afternoon and this year was at Saint Catherine's College.

 Refreshments included champagne, scones and clotted cream, and the very British treat of strawberries and cream!

 There were plenty of wizards about...

...all dressed up in their finest.

The Encaenia marks the end of the academic year at Oxford.

Encaenia -- The Venerable Wizard's Party

I made it back to Oxford this week just in time to attend the Encaenia -- the ceremony in which Oxford bestows honorary degrees on worthy recipients.

 Sometime mid-morning the Heads of Colleges, university dignitaries and the honorands gathered in their full academic dress, at one of the nearby colleges.  They then walked in formal procession to the Sheldonian Theatre. Since I was seated inside the Sheldonian, I missed the procession walk this year.

 The University dignitaries entered the theatre in procession; those who are to receive honorary degrees waited in the Divinity School where they signed their names in the Honorary Degrees Book. They were then escorted into the theatre by the Bedels, the folks with the large staffs.

The proceedings were opened by the Chancellor and each honorand was introduced by the Public Orator with a speech in Latin and admitted to his or her new degree by the Chancellor. This year's honorands included the playwright Tom Stoppard. 

 Also included were Honourable Andrew Li Kwok Nang, Dame Anne Owers, Professor Anthony Grafton, Professor Ingrid Daubechies, Baroness (Tanni) Grey-Thompson (one of Britain’s most successful Paralympic athletes), Mr Colin Smith, and Murray Perahi.

 Sir Tom Stoppard received his degree from the Chancellor.

 After the degrees were conferred, the Orator  delivered a very funny Creweian Oration (in English) on the events of the past year and in commemoration of the University's benefactors. This year (being an alternate year) the Professor of Poetry delivered the second part of this speech and it too was very witty.  Then everyone was off to the garden party...

 ....what I call the Venerable Wizard's Party, or Dress-up Day at Oxford.

 Case in point!

 My favorite wizard wore his Stanford robe.

 The party was held this year at Trinity College and the grounds were absolutely lovely. Tea, strawberries and cream, and small sandwiches were served, along with champagne and lemonade.

 I know the caps and gowns are supposed to make one look dignified and accomplished but who thought of a lamp shade  for a hat? 

 I used to think that J.K. Rowling was so creative and clever as she described the young wizards in training at Hogwarts.  Now I know that much of what she described came from what she saw at  Oxford and Cambridge.

Clayton and Christine Christensen and family (Anne, Kate and Mike) attended the garden party with us. It was such an honor to spend the afternoon with them!  Even Clayton got in on the act and wore his Harvard robe while Kate sported a lovely hat.

If you go down in the woods today you're sure of a big surprise
If you go down in the woods today you'd better go in disguise
For every Wizard that ever there was will gather there for certain
Because today's the day the Oxford Wizards have their picnic

The Encaenia Garden Party

John and I felt so honored to be invited to the Encaenia Garden Party held at Worchester College yesterday afternoon.   It was one of those "pinch me" moments as we strolled about the gorgeous grounds of the college and watched the tutors and fellows, the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor, the recipients of Honorary Degrees, and other members of Oxford University and guests, most in full academic dress. It was a venerable wizards party.Tents were set up with refreshments: tea, scones and clotted cream, elegant sandwiches, and strawberries and cream.  There was a 20-piece band that played soft jazz.  Best of all, it was a lovely afternoon – not a hint of rain.

It was fun to see so many different robes, hoods, caps and hats.  It’s easy to see where J.K. Rowling got her inspiration for wizard attire.  She must have attending an Encaenia garden party.

My favorite wizard

White tie is generally worn under academic robes at Oxford

Worcester College is the only college with it's own lake. It is stunning.  

The Encaenia is the only time robes from other colleges are worn at Oxford.  For all other occasions, one it supposed to wear Oxford robes dressed with the hood and cap from one's own college or university.  

I've been told the reason for that is that the Vice Chancellor robes are from Cambridge and no Cambridge robes are allowed at Oxford. 

Some of the outfits made me smile.  This gentleman's cap looked like a lampshade with fringes.

Wizards, wizards everywhere.

Worcester College is spectacular.  My pictures just don't capture the grandeur  

of the beauty of the grounds.  

My favorite wizard is getting a hood and cap for his birthday so he can look like all the other wizards here.  

Wizards Day at Hogwarts -- The Encaenia Ceremony

It was Wizards Day at  Oxford today and Aung San Suu Kyi was the chief wizard.  She finally received her honorary degree from Oxford University at todays Encaenia ceremony.

Suu Kyi, making her first visits outside of her native country in 24 years, was awarded an honorary doctorate in civil law in 1993 but was unable to collect it until today, due to being under house arrest in Myanmar. She studied philosophy, politics and economics at St. Hugh's College in Oxford between 1964 and 1967. After a time working in New York and Bhutan, she lived in Oxford for many years with her late husband, the Tibet scholar Michael Aris, and their sons Alexander and Kim.  Yesterday she celebrated her 67th birthday.

Encaenia is the ceremony at which the University of Oxford awards honorary degrees to distinguished men and women and commemorates its benefactors. It is held annually on the Wednesday of ninth week during Trinity Term.On the morning of the ceremony, the Heads of Colleges, university dignitaries and honored guests assemble, in full academic dress, in one of the colleges, where they enjoy Lord Crewe's benefaction of peaches, strawberries and champagne. They then walk through the streets in procession to the Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street.

The University dignitaries enter the theatre in procession; those who are to receive honorary degrees wait in the Divinity School where they sign their names in the Honorary Degrees Book. They are then escorted into the theatre. Once the Chancellor has opened the proceedings, each honorand is introduced by the Public Orator with a speech in Latin and admitted to his or her new degree by the Chancellor. The Orator then delivers the Creweian Oration on the events of the past year and in commemoration of the University's benefactors.

As with so many traditions in Oxford, the Encaenia ceremony is beloved and hundreds lined the streets to get a glimpse of the procession.  The crowds roared with Aung San Suu Kyi walked by.  She graciously stopped to shake hands with Oxford students, much to the dismay of security.  She is stunningly beautiful!

Professors heading to the Encaenia

The procession 

The University Chancellor has the gold trimmed gown

Walking toward the Sheldonian

Past the Bodleian Library 

Aung San Suu Kyi carrying the poppies

And entering the main gate at the Bodleian