A Tale of Oxford University Graduation, Dual Names, and the Mischievous Dean

Graduation ceremony at Oxford

Yesterday, I attended my cousin’s grand MA graduation gala at the ‘illustrious’ Oxford University. As I ventured closer to the ivory towers of academia, I saw a multitude of friends and family clutching colourful bouquets.

‘Ah, what a charming gesture,’ I pondered. ‘Oh, I have no flowers or gifts!’

You see, I had every intention of presenting her with a memorable graduation gift, but alas, the relentless demands of life conspired against me! And I forgot!

The Quest for the Perfect Gift

Undeterred by the lack of a florist nearby, I headed to the first local tourist-trap gift shop. You know the kind — double the price of any regular shop. But I unearthed a gem: a notepad cleverly crafted in the shape of oversized letters, like a hardback book, and ready to grace any desk with style. I could get her the letter of her first name! Result! But I had a problem. What is her first name?

The Enigmatic Cousin

Now, let’s talk about my cousin, the enigma from Guyana, South America. She’s got not one but two names — one for the clan and another for the outside world. It’s a Guyanese tradition, you know.

But why, you ask? Well, Guyanese people like to make life difficult for children, you know, test our intelligence. Well, not really, but this is why: Sometimes, the public name differs slightly from the given name. In other cases, it’s an entirely different name, gifted to them by a family member or friend.

Why two, you inquire? Well, in Guyana, they used to believe that mischievous spirits could cause mischief if they knew your real name.

God forbid the spirits knew your name and called you to go and live with them!

So, out of caution and to fool the not-so-intelligent spirit, parents bestowed two names upon their children, with the public name acting as a kind of supernatural shield.

My Dilemma

So, now I find myself in a dilemma. I cannot, for the life of me, remember her public name. I knew it might begin with an R or P, but I wasn’t quite sure — Roxanne, Roseline or Patsy? I couldn’t recall. I had never called her by this name before! Yet, this was the name she used at Oxford University, her public name to ensure those scholarly gates did not bar her entry and the beastly spirits did not take her away. You couldn’t make this up!

I had no clue about my cousin’s public name, and I was determined to gift her something for her desk as a memento of her grand graduation.

So, I had to put on my detective hat and rapidly scour her email address, all while racing to make it to the ceremony. A writer’s life is never dull, I tell you!

History of names from the West Indies and South America

People from the West Indies and South America have adopted various methods of naming a child, influenced by their historical background. The first inhabitants of the West Indies were the Arawak and Carib people.

They bestowed names upon their children, inspired by nature. Conversely, the Caribs gave their children names connected to ancestors and the clan’s totem animal.

However, when enslaved African people were brought to these plantations in the West Indies and South America, they carried with them customs from Africa. As they were taken from different parts of Africa, they brought a diverse mix of traditions and beliefs. However, eventually, most African slaves were given first names and surnames by their oppressors.

Over time, the naming conventions in the West Indies and South America evolved into a fusion of European, African, and Indigenous influences. This blend is reflected in the many unique and beautiful names found in the region today.

The Oxford Ceremony

In the end, I managed to find her public name in her public email, Roselyn, purchase a beautiful notepad letter gift, and navigate my way to the ceremony.

The cold, 20-minute wait in the courtyard left me less than amused.

Climbing the seemingly endless spiral staircase to the antiquated theatre-style room truly tested my patience. To add to the thrill, there was no railing at the top, and leaning too far forward might have led to an unfortunate consequence — one could have found themselves in a rather life-threatening situation.

The Mischievous Dean

Allow me to digress and share an amusing incident from the ceremony.

It was the highlight of the day, where deans, accompanied by the graduating students from the faculty, orchestrated a procession to symbolise respect and unity.

Picture this: students standing in pairs, each behind the other, while the dean stood at the front. The tradition involved the dean holding the hand of the student next to him/her and executing synchronised bows to the left, right, forward, forward, and then right, left, and so on.

The dean had to repeat this intricate dance several times for numerous groups.

Now, envision this perfectly choreographed scene, and then there was a dean who was not quite himself. He appeared slightly tipsy, rejecting the hand-holding ritual and, instead, reciting the Latin verses at breakneck speed. Moreover, he performed the bowing at a similarly rapid pace. It was indeed a comical sight! But, dear reader, I did not let the side down — I maintained a dignified smile.

The mischievous dean’s antics afforded my partner and me a shared, albeit subtly concealed, source of amusement as we repeatedly witnessed this scenario. We were not the only ones who noticed; my cousin raised the topic with us after the ceremony, her curiosity piqued. She wondered why he refused to partake in the hand-holding tradition. We could only speculate perhaps a past encounter with a particularly sticky student’s hand had left a lasting impression!

Nonetheless, the proceedings were splendid, replete with pomp and ceremony, and we all relished a delightful time. She adored her letter R gift! The post-ceremony meal featured a delightful assortment of cakes and fabulous sandwiches, complemented by an abundance of wine.

Oxford University’s Early Beginnings

In the 12th century, people in Oxford, England, were eager to learn new things. People began teaching others, and soon Oxford became a centre for learning.

At first, classes were informal discussions about interesting ideas. But as more and more people came to learn, schools became more formal. The first colleges in Oxford were linked to religious places, and Latin was the main language of teaching.

In 1201, King John of England granted Oxford a charter, officially recognizing it as a university.

Oxford continued to grow and change, and it became famous for its colleges and its smart students and teachers. It became a major centre of learning and knowledge, and it continues to be one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

We had a fantastic day at Oxford University.

©Sophia Tell. All rights reserved.