Formal (university)

{{Short description|Traditional university meal}} {{more citations needed|date=September 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Use British English|date=January 2017}} thumb|St John's College, Cambridge Formal Hall

A '''formal hall''' or '''formal dinner''', commonly referred to as a '''formal''', is a meal held at some of the older universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as some Commonwealth countries, at which students usually dress in formal attire and often gowns to dine.

==Practices and traditions== [[File:Mildert day formal 08.JPG|thumb|Mildert day formal at Van Mildert College, Durham]] Formals are held commonly in colleges in the universities of Oxford,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cherwell.org/2022/10/05/guide-to-oxfords-traditions/|title=A guide to Oxford’s traditions|work=Cherwell|date=5 October 2022|author= Maxi Grindley}}</ref> Cambridge<ref>{{cite journal|title=Formal Dining at Cambridge Colleges: Linking Ritual Performance and Institutional Maintenance|journal=The Academy of Management Journal|author1=M. Tina Dacin|author2=Kamal Munir|author3=Paul Tracey|jstor=29780264|date=December 2010|volume=53|issue=6|pages=1393–1418}}</ref> and Durham,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/colleges-and-student-experience/colleges/|website=Durham University|title=Our Colleges|at=College Formals|access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref> and at Trinity College Dublin (where they are known as commons).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/commons-people-1.899069|title=Commons People|author=Tom Doorley|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=1 March 2008}}</ref> They are also held in some halls and colleges of other universities, including St Andrews<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/accommodation/halls/st-regulus-hall/|title=St Regulus Hall|at=What is St Regulus Hall like?|website=University of St Andrews|access-date=29 November 2023|archive-date=6 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106222435/https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/accommodation/halls/st-regulus-hall/|url-status=dead}}</ref>, Leeds<ref name=Devonshire>{{cite web|url=https://residencelife.leeds.ac.uk/story/13159833/devonshire-hall-formals|title=Devonshire Hall Formals|website=Residence Life|publisher=University of Leeds|access-date=22 April 2026|author= Sarah Djuric}}</ref> and Manchester<ref name=Slems>{{cite web|url=https://www.stanselmhall.co.uk/catering|title=Catering|website=St Anselm Hall, Manchester|access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> in the UK; Adelaide,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stmarkscollege.com.au/facilities/dining/|title=Dining|website=St Mark's College|access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref> Melbourne,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unicol.unimelb.edu.au/rooms-and-meals-undergraduates/|title=Rooms and Meals|website=University College, Melbourne|access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref> Queensland,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unioncollegeuq.com.au/|title=Union College|at=Meals|access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref> Sydney,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sanctasophiacollege.edu.au/student-life/food-and-dining/|title=Food and Dining|website=Sancta Sophia College, Sydney|access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> Tasmania,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jane.edu.au/living-at-jane/catering|title=Catering|website=Jane College, Tasmania|access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> Western Australia<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stcats.com.au/student-life/events|title=Events|website=St Catherine's College |access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> Monash,<ref>{{cite web |title=Formal Dinners of 2022 |website=Mannix College, Monash University|url=https://mannix.monash.edu/formal-dinners-of-2022/ |access-date=25 November 2024 |date=2024 |quote=Every second Wednesday, Mannix College holds various types of Formal Dinners in the Dining Hall providing residents with meaningful experiences ranging from guest speeches, performances, and more. See below all the Formal Dinners held at Mannix College during 2022.}}</ref> New England<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.une.edu.au/campus-life/une-accommodation/colleges/austin|title=Austin Page College|website=University of New England|access-date=22 April 2026|quote=Affectionately known as “the Dino”, the dining room is where you attend one of our five formal dinners.}}</ref> and New South Wales<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newcollege.unsw.edu.au/experience/social-life|title=Social Life|quote=The New College Communities gather several times a year for Formal Dinners.|website=New College Communities at the University of New South Wales|access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> in Australia; and Toronto in Canada.<ref>{{cite news|title=From Cult to Kin: Trinity Redefined|url=https://trintimes.ca/trinity/from-cult-to-kin-trinity-redefined/|date=17 November 2023|author=Anwesha Mukherjee |work=Trinity Times}}</ref>

Formals have declined in Britain in the 21st century, with the last formal at Wills Hall, University of Bristol, being held in 2018<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.thetab.com/uk/bristol/2018/05/05/legendary-hall-warden-goes-clubbing-with-students-after-final-formal-33520|author= James Heale|title=Legendary Hall Warden goes clubbing with students after final formal|work=The Tab|date=5 May 2018}}</ref> and formals at some Durham colleges have been reduced from twice weekly in 2019 to every other week in 2026.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thecritic.co.uk/the-decline-of-durham/|title=The Decline of Durham|work=The Critic|author= Morgan Watkins|date=1 March 2026}}</ref>

Some colleges and halls have elaborate traditions, while others are more relaxed. Grace may be said before the meal,<ref name=Devonshire/><ref name=Johns>{{cite web|url=https://johnschronicle.org/2019/11/22/im-going-to-a-formal-wait-what-is-a-formal/|title=I’m going to a formal! Wait, what is a formal?|work=John's Chronicle|quote=Depending on which college you attend, the traditions may vary. In John’s, we say grace before the meal. Additionally, there is usually a ‘High Table’ at formal, which normally consists of ‘Guests of the Principal’, seated on the raised platform of Leech Hall|orig-date=22 November 2019|date=2025|author1= Clarissa Wemple|author2= Kathrine Bertram}}</ref> in some places in Latin. The wearing of academic gowns at formals is compulsory at some colleges and halls;<ref name=Devonshire/><ref name=Johns/> at others formal wear (for example, a lounge suit for men or equivalent for women) is required,<ref name=Mildert/> and some colleges wear black tie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hildbedesrc.org/formals|title=Formals|website=Hild Bede SRC|access-date=29 April 2026}}</ref> Fancy dress may be permitted for themed formals.<ref name=Devonshire/>

Drinking games are traditional at many, but not all, halls and colleges.<ref name=Johns/> These are banned in some colleges, such as St Cuthbert's Society, Durham,<ref name=Cuths>{{cite web|url=https://www.dur.ac.uk/media/durham-university/colleges/st-cuthbertx27s-society/resources/Use-this-one--Student-Handbook-2021-KD---Final-Approved-Copy.pdf|title=Student Handbook 2021–2022|website=St Cuthbert's Society|pages=14–16|access-date=24 April 2026}}</ref> and Downing College, Cambridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/current-students/catering/formal-hall-dress-and-conduct|title=Formal Hall dress and conduct|website=Downing College, Cambridge|access-date=24 April 2026}}</ref>

Many formals include a high table, for members of the senior common room, their guests, and sometimes members of the middle common room or the junior common room executive, with other students eating at the lower tables.<ref name=Devonshire/><ref name=Mildert/> The high table may be raised above the floor level of the hall, on a dais.<ref name=Johns/> Some colleges, such as Linacre College, Oxford, do not have high tables.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/colleges/linacre-college|title=About the College|website=Linacre College, Oxford|quote=Students and fellows - the academics attached to the college - eat and socialise together. Partners and children are welcome. Linacre has one common room for all and no High Table.|access-date=24 April 2026}}</ref> At Manchester halls, which do not have a close academic connection with the university and have always been largely undergraduate institutions, the executive committee of the junior common room sits at the high table.<ref>Lawrenceson, T.E. (1957) 'St. Anselm Hall in the University of Manchester, 1907-1957.' Manchester: Manchester University Press.</ref>

There may be one or more after-dinner speakers at the end of the dinner or even between courses on special occasions. These have sometimes caused controversy, such as Rod Liddle at South College, Durham.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/dec/09/durham-head-steps-back-after-calling-students-pathetic-at-rod-liddle-event|title=Durham head steps back after calling students ‘pathetic’ at Rod Liddle event|date=9 December 2021|work=The Guardian|author=Maya Wolfe-Robinson}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-60704871|title=Durham University reviews speaker policy after Rod Liddle row|date=11 March 2022|work=BBC News}}</ref>

== Terminology == The full name and abbreviations to describe the formals differ. Generally, though, they are known as: * ''Formal hall'' – used at Oxford,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.st-hughs.ox.ac.uk/current-students/food/formal-hall/|title= Formal Halls|website=St Hugh's College, Oxford|access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> Cambridge<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/college-life/food/formal-halls|title=Formal Halls|website=Wolfson College, Cambridge|access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> and Durham<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stchads.ac.uk/college/facilities/|title=Buildings, Facilities and Accommodation|website=St Chad's College, Durham|access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> * ''Formal dinner'' – used at Durham and at Devonshire Hall, Leeds<ref name=Devonshire/><ref name=Mildert>{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/media/durham-university/colleges/van-mildert-college/Mildert-Guide-to-Formal-Dining.pdf|title=The Van Mildert Guide to Formal Dining|website=Van Mildert College, Durham|access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> * ''Commons'' – Trinity College Dublin<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcd.ie/media/tcd/communications/pdfs/Trinity-Scholarship-Information-Booklet-24-April-2023.pdf|title=Information for New Scholars|date=24 May 2023|access-date=22 April 2026|website=Trinity College Dublin}}</ref> * ''Communal dinner'' – St Anselm Hall, Manchester<ref name=Slems/> * ''High table'' – Trinity College<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thevarsity.ca/2018/10/21/the-problem-with-high-tables/|title=The problem with high tables|author= Gavin Foster|date=21 October 2018|work=The Varsity}}</ref> and Massey College<ref>{{cite web|url=https://masseycollege.ca/events/massey-high-table/|title=Massey High Table|website=Massey College|access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref> in the University of Toronto.

Abbreviations of the above terms tend to be either ''formal'' or, at St John's College, Cambridge, ''hall''. There are other circumstances in which different names are used. For example, some larger colleges have both a large dining hall and a canteen-style dining room (often called the ''buttery'' or ''servery''). In these cases informal evening meals are taken in the buttery and formal meals in the hall, and the term ''hall'' is used uniquely to refer to the latter meal. Some may call it ''second hall'' to differentiate from the earlier self-service ''first hall'' or ''informal hall''.

== See also == * Informal hall * Gaudy

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Formal (University)}} Category:Academic meals Category:University of Cambridge Category:University of Oxford Category:Durham University