Learn all about the Russ Celebration
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Norway Series at NorwegianClass101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Norwegian holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 11 - Russ celebration. In Norwegian, it’s called Russefeiring. |
| In Norway, graduation from high school is celebrated a little differently than in many other countries. It is called “Russefeiring”, and is a tradition that started in 1905 when men who had attained higher education wore red caps or røde hatter. Graduation in Norway is actually celebrated before the student has completed their schooling. In this lesson, you will learn about the “russefeiring” celebration in Norway. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question- |
| Do you know how much money one student can potentially spend during the russetid, which means the celebration period? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| Russefeiring is a way for the students in Norway to celebrate their completion of thirteen years of schooling. The celebration starts almost one year before the actual graduation. All the students go to bars, in Norwegian russekro, with their pants on inside out. At midnight, everyone changes and turns their pants the right way because that is when they officially are considered a russ, meaning a graduate. During the month of May, there are many russ-related events and festivals all over Norway. |
| On the night of May 1, it’s common for many russ to drive around in their russ cars, called russebiler, or buses all night. In the dark, they stop at different places and drink, dance, and have a good time together. Of course people living in the surrounding area and the police don’t usually look very kindly upon this tradition. The russ will celebrate until the break of dawn, since May 1 is an official holiday in Norway. |
| Norway's national day, May 17, is the last day of the russ celebration period. The russ walk in a parade next to children, and they sing, pass out their personal cards with their name, school, picture and a joke. In certain cases they splash the audience with water guns. After the May 17 parade, the russ have their own parade, the russ parade or russetog. They often dress up in costumes, or create huge posters explaining what they believe in or things they wish to change in society. |
| During the russ period, each school will have its own list of things the russ can do to get knots in the strings of their hats; these are called russeknuter meaning the russ’ knots. For each thing on the list a russ may do, they will get a thing in their hat. For instance, a common knot is achieved by eating breakfast in a roundabout. For this, the russ can get a plastic fork in their hat. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Do you know how much money one student can potentially spend during the russetid (the celebration period)? A russ uses on average 10,000 Norwegian kroner equal to 1,500USD during the russ period, but in certain cases you will find some students who spend over 100,000 Norwegian kroner equal to 15,000 USD. |
| What did you think of this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| Could you imagine celebrating your graduation this way? |
| Leave us your comments on NorwegianClass101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson. |
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