Kristian Ritvala is the Spirit of Mercury of the School of Business Ceremonial Conferment 2026
The School of Business will celebrate the 17th conferment ceremony in its history on 21–23 May 2026, and the Spirit of Mercury will have a central role in the festivities. The Spirit of Mercury represents youth in the conferment ceremony and, according to tradition, is chosen from among the children of one of the longest-serving professors in the School of Business. The young adult taking on this position of honour must have completed the matriculation examination, but must not yet have graduated with a master’s degree.
The conferment festivities begin with the Laurel Wreath Weaving, hosted by the parents of the Spirit of Mercury. At the Laurel Wreath Weaving, the Spirit of Mercury conducts the promovendi and their companions in binding the laurel leaves. During the three-day festivities, the Spirit of Mercury socialises with the honorary doctors and doctors, and at the Herring Luncheon on the last day of the conferment the Spirit of Mercury gives a speech to those who have been conferred their degrees.
The first part of the term ‘Spirit of Mercury’ comes from the Roman god Mercury. He was the protector of merchants and thus also the protector of business studies and professions closely related to it, such as consultants. The word ‘Spirit’, for its part, means a messenger, forerunner and assistant in ceremonial functions.
The first male Spirit of Mercury
The Master of Ceremonies of the 2026 conferment, Professor Seppo Ikäheimo invited Professor of International Business Tiina Ritvala and her spouse Jaakko Ritvala to appoint the Spirit of Mercury.
The Ritvalas accepted the request with great joy and pride. Kristian Ritvala, who will graduate with a Master’s degree in Business Administration in the summer of 2026, perfectly embodies the qualities required of a Spirit of Mercury. He is outgoing, a skilled public speaker, and multilingual, and he possesses the necessary dexterity to tie and fasten the laurel leaves.
Kristian Ritvala is the School of Business’s first male Spirit of Mercury. This choice demonstrates the School of Business’s commitment to keeping up with the times. The title of the Spirit of Mercury was still “Maiden of Mercury” at the 2016 ceremonial conferment. By the 2022 ceremonial conferment, the title had already been updated to “the Spirit of Mercury” but at that time, the role was still held by a “maiden.”
The event began with a request from the Master of Ceremonies, Professor Seppo Ikäheimo, and a response from Professor Tiina Ritvala. Following the speeches, the quartet of Female Choir KYN (Oona Sunnari, Hannaleena Loimaranta, Maiju Tiiri, and Nina Vuorinen) further heightened the festive atmosphere by performing the songs “Utan dig” and “Lullaby of Birdland”. Previously in the Entreating the Spirit of Mercury, the KYL male choir had always provided the musical greeting, so this tradition was also updated.
Several members of the conferment committee attended the Entreating the Spirit of Mercury at the beautiful and light-filled home of the Ritvala family on Sunday 26 April 2026. After the official programme, delicious savoury and sweet refreshments were enjoyed, which the hosts had laid out very beautifully to celebrate this fine academic tradition.
School of Business Ceremonial Conferment
The first ceremonial conferment at the School of Business was held in 1946.
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