Better than their reputation

High school seniors have their own celebratory traditions in lots of countries, but Norway's "russ" phenomenon is, as far as I know, one of a kind. From late April until Constitution Day (May 17th), graduating seniors participate in all sorts of activities and celebrations running the gamut from quaint to downright Dionysian.
This dates back to the turn of the last century. I didn't have any seniors last year and knew almost nothing of what it meant to be russ, so Inki and I watched a 1955 film "Bedre enn sitt rykte" ("Better than their reputation") which chronicles the russ traditions of that period. Back then, russ distinguished themselves by wearing a russelue (a cloth cap with a small brim) and carrying a bamboo stick wrapped in colored ribbon. Now the stick is gone and in its place the russ wear bright overalls. The color of the overalls depends on the student's program of study; general college prep is red and the most common at my school along with blue (specializing in finance and business). They wear this "uniform" everywhere during the weeks before May 17th and then put it away forever. Each russ has his or her name stenciled down one leg and the rest is covered all over in all sorts of decals. I saw one from a Christian private school here in town with a burning cross and "WWJD," among lots of others. Another decal that caught my eye on a female russ was the Dolce and Gabbana logo D&G, except that "Dolce and Gabbana" had been replaced with the words "Deilig og Guttegal" ("Sweet and Boy-Crazy"). She was one of three who came to my 8 am class today; there was a big event somewhere last night, and most of the seniors couldn't drag themselves in that early. For these few weeks, the school generally turns an indulgently blind eye to things like the occasional hangover-triggered unexcused absence.

There are lots of traditions, and I'll have to just list a few:
- a long list of wacky things to do that russ get to tie all sorts of objects to their cap for doing, like eating a whole carton of ice cream in one sitting in class or eating breakfast in a traffic roundabout (as well as some other tasks that are less wholesome and occasionally illegal);
- arming themselves with water balloons and water pistols to torment hapless underclassmen and passersby;
- trading cards for every russ with his or her school, year, name, picture, and some chosen quotations, which they exchange with each other at russ events and give to family members and friends;
- a russ car, today usually an beat-up van with a sound system that cost more than the vehicle, which is painted fire-engine red like the overalls and plastered with decals and the names of its russ owners and with ads for local businesses who "sponsor" the car and help the russ afford its considerable expense;
- a russ newspaper, published as a sort of yearbook-type chronicle on Constitution Day at the culmination of the russ period;
- a russ variety show with all sorts of irreverent skits and music;
- marching together in the big Constitution Day parade;
- an extensive repertoire of russ songs; and
- jamborees of a sort out in the country with other russ from all over the country.

It says a lot about the russ experience that the word "russ" is a collective singular noun with no plural; that is, one refers to "russ" as one entity instead of as plural individuals. They dress alike and spend almost all their time together undergoing a common experience. A shared experience and rite of passage that looks like a hell of a lot of fun....