Russ

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This article is about Russ, the Scandinavian cultural phenomenon. For other meanings, see Russ (disambiguation).
Russ passing by the Royal Palace in Oslo, Norway
Russ passing by the Royal Palace in Oslo, Norway

Russ is a tradition and cultural phenomenon in Scandinavia. In Norway, students who graduate from high school are called russ and celebrate with the characteristic festivities (russefeiring) during the first few weeks of May. In Sweden, a similar celebration is called Studenten ("the student"). In Denmark, first-year college students are called rus. This article focuses on the Norwegian celebration.

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[edit] Etymology

The word rus is believed to come from Latin Cornua Depositurus, to put aside one's horns [1]. In Norwegian, an extra s is added for ease of pronunciation and to avoid confusion with the word rus, which means "intoxication". In danish, the two words are spelled the same way, but have different pronounciations.

[edit] History

The tradition goes back to the 1700s, at a time when no universities existed in Norway, and Norwegians would attend the University of Copenhagen to study alongside Danish students. To be enrolled at the university, students had to pass the Examen Artium. After completing their examinations, horns were placed on their foreheads and they were ridiculed by older students. When the results from the exams were ready, the students would participate in a ceremony called Examen Depositiones, in which they were called up to the examinator: if they had passed the test, their horns would be removed, as a sign of wisdom and subjugation of the wild animal within. From then on, the young persons had the right to call themselves students.

The modern Norwegian russ tradition dates back to 1905, when the red russ caps were introduced. The caps were initially only used by boys, and were inspired by German students, who in 1904 wore red caps when they visited Norway. In 1916, blue caps were introduced at the Oslo Handelsgymnasium, a high school specializing in economics.

The tradition of celebrating enrollment at a university is today continued in Denmark, but the former rituals or ceremonies are no longer practiced. Danish college students during their first week have rus festivities (rusuge), which in recent years mostly consist of a few parties where new students can get to know each other.

In Norway the tradition has been, for about a century, to celebrate the end of 13 years of school. The russ festivities (russefeiring) in Norway, which can last several weeks, are today a much more important event than the rusuge for new students in Denmark.

However, this does not mean that Danish youths do not celebrate the end of secondary education. In Denmark - as in Sweden - after completion of the student exam ("studentereksamen" - the Danish equivalent of the U.S. high school degree) the tradition is now to celebrate the end of secondary education by driving about either in a lorry or a horse and cart, and partake in festivities amongst the families of the graduating students. These celebrations often also go on for several days or weeks.

[edit] Russ today in Norway

The festivities officially starts on 1 May, though the celebrations may start earlier, and last until May 17, which is the Norwegian Constitution Day (National Day of Norway). On that day, they commonly celebrate with their own parades. The final exams are placed after May 17, however. Those who fail might even become russ again the year after. (In earlier years, exams were held ahead of May 17, but they were moved in an attempt to reduce the extensive russ celebrations, with little luck.)

[edit] Types of russ

There are several different types of russ; differing in colour of their caps and traditional uniforms (which most students carry during the entire russ period).

Red (rødruss)
Allmennfag (general studies) (mathematics, physics, biology, history, literature, English etc); media and communication, art, music, dance and drama; and athletics. This is by far the most common color.
Blue (blåruss)
Allmennfag with economics
Black (svartruss)
Vocational courses (like electronics or carpentry). Since Norwegian vocational studies consist of 2 years of schooling and 1 or 2 years of apprenticeship, black russ can choose to celebrate a year earlier than the others or to celebrate in multiple years.
Green (grønnruss)
Agricultural courses, but is also used by some as an alternative to orange russ
White (hvitruss)
In some regions, white russ can be athletics students or healthcare students. In other regions, sober Christians might use this colour, but in most regions they wear the same colours as their classmates. Christian russ might form their own groups to have fun together without peer pressure towards alcohol, sex and drugs.
Others
Sometimes children in the last year of kindergarten call themselves "pink russ" (rosaruss), or girls become pink russ and boys become light blue russ. In some places, children in the last year of middle school (ungdomsskolen) become "orange russ" (oransjeruss). None of these have any real relation to the russ celebrations, though. These celebrations have not become very common so far.

The russ wear uniforms with their respective colours. Attached to the cap is a tassel at the end of a string, in which they tie knots, often around various items that are rewards for completing assignments listed on the russ knot list. This cap is seldom used before the "russ baptism", which is usually held during the night to May 1.

[edit] Russ knots

The russ knot list was first introduced in the 1940s. The list is sometimes criticized because it often includes illegal acts, such as public nudity, and possibly hazardous acts, such as consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short amount of time. Other, more benign tasks exist, such as putting a for sale sign on a police car, or spending the night at a teacher's house and making him/her breakfast in the morning, all without being noticed.

[edit] Russ vans (Russebiler) and Russ buses (Russebusser)

In the older days russ often travelled around in an open lorry, either used as-is or with a do-it-yourself hut added to the cargo area. Today it is common for several friends to join together to buy a russ car (mostly small cities and densely populated areas), or a bus (primarily in the larger cities and the surrounding areas), painted in their respective russ colour. It is usual to paint with paint used for wood, but some have their car professionally sprayed and add vinyl decals to it.

Russ vehicles bought on the cheap have a reputation for being in a horrible technical condition. Inexperienced and intoxicated drivers, and in some cases even highly flammable moonshine, have contributed to fatal traffic accidents and fires in these vehicles. The Norwegian police take part in a concerted effort to improve the situation. Those russ that acquire a bus will usually hire a professional bus driver for the duration of the celebration, while van drivers might be an older sibling, friend, or a russ who chooses to abstain from alcohol.

In the russ vehicle, modern tradition requires an expensive stereo inside the vehicle, and on buses, also on the roof (the largest systems allowed can have forty speakers which can generate over sixty thousand watts). Other, more optional accessories, include bus sweaters, bus lighters/key strings, bus caps and a bus song. It is also common to have some sort of theme for the interior and name/concept.

Such buses are a large financial burden; a contribution of up to $5,000 per member has occurred. Though, the average is $1-3,000 per member. Including sponsors the budget on buses can reach over $150,000.

The stereos the big buses rent can sometimes be very large. Teddy Squad, Russ in 2006, rented a stereo that was the same size of the ones that were used for the Roskilde festival. The cost of this is estimated to be around $50,000 for the three weeks the russ party is on.

In March 2007, the highest bus sale in the "russ" history was made. "Superhelten 2007" was sold to "Project Lightsticks 2008" for 410.000 NOK (about $65.000). "Superhelten 2007" who is russ in 2007, are expected to be one of the biggest busses in history. Their bus budget is 1,400.000 NOK (about $225.000). "Hotshot 2007" have a very small budget and is known for collecting "all the geeks of 2007". Their budget is a little less than $10.000(feigt)

[edit] Russ cards (Russekort)

Russekort from 2003
Russekort from 2003

Most russ have personalized calling cards featuring their name, their photograph and a short slogan. These cards are swapped with other russ and handed out to children or family members; for many children, collecting huge amounts of russ cards is an important activity during May, culminating on May 17.

[edit] Russ newspapers (Russeavis)

In order to finance some of the administrative costs and/or other causes, many high schools create russ newspapers that contain fake news, a few words from the russ president, the official knot rules for the specific high school, etc. The most important feature of a russ newspaper, however, is a section that presents every class and every student with a photograph and a personalized biography, typically written by one or more friends, and always in a jocular and satirical style. The class may also write a similar entry on their main teacher; the teacher, in turn, writes about their class. The Russ' newspaper is written and published by Russ' executive board (Russens Hovedstyre).

[edit] Cheating russ

While the russ tradition is exclusive to graduating students, russ impersonation has in recent years become a problem as non-students, or students who are otherwise ineligible, wish to participate in the festivities. It is a testament to the popularity and allure of the tradition that some russ attempt to partake several years in a row.

[edit] Criticism

Each year, as a new year of russ hits the streets of Norway with the intention to celebrate longer, better and louder than the russ of the previous year, the debate over "how out of control the russ of this year is, compared to the good old days" resurfaces with them.

In these discussions, the following negative side-effects of the celebration are often put forward:

  • Binge drinking among people barely of drinking age.
  • Young people, often student drivers, driving around in old cars or buses which may not even be roadworthy.
  • Neglecting schoolwork in the important final months of a thirteen-year-long education, just prior to final exams.
  • The psychological ease of breaking moral and civil law when russ are together in larger groups, with an “everyone else is doing it” attitude.
  • Loud music at all hours coming from buses used as mobile party areas, keeping the rest of the population awake.
  • The financial burden the celebration puts on youth, that may have little income in the first place, and where after school work may impact school work.
  • Encouraging students to commit violent acts, such as kidnapping and assault, even against children, has occasionally been parts of russ knot lists.

[edit] See also

  • Studenten, literally "the student", the Swedish and Danish equivalents.
  • The student cap, which is worn by Swedish and Danish graduating students and can be of many different colours, depending on the type of education received.

[edit] External links

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