Carnations for exams

I have a few questions about these...

- It's red - pink - white, right?
- Do Mods students wear them or just finalists?
- I have all four of my exams in two days, does that mean I'll need to wear red in the morning, pink in the afternoon etc? Or is it just for the first/last day, hence no pink?
- Who's meant to get them - do you buy one for yourself or are your friends supposed to get them for you? What happens if nobody gets me one :frown:

- Where do you get them from/how much do they cost?
- Is it bad luck not to wear one? :redface:

Sorry for all the questions, rep for replies!!

Reply 1

Elles

17

Ah bless. I bet they contravene hospital health and safety rules... i'd need an autoclaved plastic one or something, damnit. :bawling:

- Well in order it's white - pink - red.

- People do definitely seem to wear them for Prelims/Mods as well as Finals.

- Very first exam = white, then exams after = pink, until the last = red. Rather than being done by days.
I heard some story about in the Olden Days putting your white carnation in red inkwell, so over the course it darkened - but that may be entirely made up.

- In the same way, I've always got the impression that you absolutely don't buy one for yourself. It might be useful to preplan amongst your friends... my college husband usually got me one colour, other-half another and a friend the 3rd.

- Every flower shop will probably be doing them in buckets. Covered Market is good. Can't remember about cost but not that expensive.

- Whether it's unlucky - i doubt there are any randomised control trials. But a friend with an allergy didn't do badly. I've always worn one... they're pretty, it seems to complete the sub fusc palaver & trying to keep the same pink alive (with fresh water/sugar etc) for all the middle ones was a good frivolous distraction.

Reply 2

thomasjtl

9

i've not bought them before exams, where i assume prices might go up if the florists cotton on, but a bunch of carnations shouldn't cost more than a few pounds.

Reply 3

Agrippina

OP

15

Thanks for the replies. Does *everyone* wear them then? Would I look like a loser if I don't wear one?!

Reply 4

Elles

17

Not absolutely everyone, but I'd say the vast majority do.

Most people will probably be more concerned by impending exams or celebrating than deciding whether other people are losers or just atopic/disorganized, though.

Reply 5

mikeyT

2

They cost 60p per carnation from the covered market. Its supposed to mean bad luck if you buy one for yourself. I noticed a few of the finalists didn't have one and I had a tough time trying to buy a pink one for a friend a couple of weeks ago- so not everyone wears them.
Be more worried about your exams than the carnations- but do get your subfusc correct as someone nearly wasn't allowed to take an exam because he didn't wear dark socks.

Reply 6

Agrippina

OP

15

Hehe I'm certainly more worried about the exams than the carnations but I think it's a nice tradition which I'd like to partake in, just worried that nobody will buy me any :redface:

Reply 7

Athena

6

Agrippina

Hehe I'm certainly more worried about the exams than the carnations but I think it's a nice tradition which I'd like to partake in, just worried that nobody will buy me any :redface:

Will told me that the economists went as a group to buy then and then passed each flower one person clockwise - so everyone got one they hadn't bought! Find a friend and swap.

I'm hoping my college hubby will do the honours (since I was going to buy his, but the LawSoc sorted them out first...)

Reply 8

Agrippina

OP

15

Athena

Will told me that the economists went as a group to buy then and then passed each flower one person clockwise - so everyone got one they hadn't bought! Find a friend and swap.

I'm hoping my college hubby will do the honours (since I was going to buy his, but the LawSoc sorted them out first...)

I think I might do that, yeah... my best friend is, coincidentally, at Wadham so I'll try and persuade her that we should swap! :smile:

Reply 9

F1 fanatic

16

Agrippina

Thanks for the replies. Does *everyone* wear them then? Would I look like a loser if I don't wear one?!

Never ever worn one myself, and have no real intention of doing so :p:

, and I don't think any of my group of friends really do since we can't be bothered to buy them each other. It hasn't served me too much bad luck so far, and it saves me being ripped off by the florists :p:

I suppose there is always a time to start, but I wasn't planning on it this year :redface:

Edit: I'm not sure that answers your question mind. It may just prove beyond doubt that I am in fact a loser :p:

Reply 10

Feefifofum

16

Not everyone wears them, no. But the vast majority do - I'd say 4 out of 5 wore them in my Mods, last term. It's quite a nice tradition - even if you're not superstitious about them bringing luck, it's fun.

It's supposed to be bad luck to buy your own. In my college, our college sisters (our equivalent of college parents) buy them for us, and pidge to us the morning of the exams.

Reply 11

thomasjtl

9

So does each big sister only have one little sister at hilda's then? What do you call your siblings, if not a sister also?

Reply 12

Feefifofum

16

thomasjtl

So does each big sister only have one little sister at hilda's then? What do you call your siblings, if not a sister also?

Each little sister has just one big sister, but each big sister can have more than one. It depends on how many there are in each subject in a year. And we don't have siblings in our own year.

Reply 13

F1 fanatic

16

Feefifofum

Each little sister has just one big sister, but each big sister can have more than one. It depends on how many there are in each subject in a year. And we don't have siblings in our own year.

it'll be interesting when hildas goes mixed, will sisters suddenly turn into mothers and grandmothers?

Reply 14

hobnob

14

mikeyT

Be more worried about your exams than the carnations- but do get your subfusc correct as someone nearly wasn't allowed to take an exam because he didn't wear dark socks.

Really? I was wearing green socks with red stripes to some of my finals exams, actually, but nobody seemed to care. :smile:

Although the chief invigilator (or whatever he's called) did tell off a few girls for wearing tights that were tan rather than black before the start of one exam, which I found a bit bizarre...

Reply 15

F1 fanatic

16

hobnob

Really? I was wearing green socks with red stripes to some of my finals exams, actually, but nobody seemed to care. :smile:

Although the chief invigilator (or whatever he's called) did tell off a few girls for wearing tights that were tan rather than black before the start of one exam, which I found a bit bizarre...

guys can hide socks easy enough though, assuming you've got decent length trousers.

Reply 16

thomasjtl

9

well, the regulations do say black stockings or tights. I suppose it's a bit more noticable than the colour of your socks.

Reply 17

hobnob

14

F1 fanatic

guys can hide socks easy enough though, assuming you've got decent length trousers.

Actually girls can wear decent-length trousers too these days... :wink:

Reply 18

F1 fanatic

16

hobnob

Actually girls can wear decent-length trousers too these days... :wink:

they can, but presumably you wouldn't be wearing tights with that. Therefore tights are more noticeable

Reply 19

Morbo

17

Traditionally, the order of carnation-wearing was white for all exams except the penultimate one, where pink was worn, and the last one, where red was worn. This seems to have become corrupted somewhat though.

I have never wanted carnations for either of the two set of exams I've sat, but having twice attracted the attention of some girl during the revision periods, I've ended up with them anyway. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like that will be the case this year :bawling:

Carnations for exams

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