Russ (The Crazy Tradition in Norwegian High School)

The time we leave high school is one of the best in our lives. normally by this time some people take one of the most important decisions in their lives, they decide about their future.
But I am not writing this post to talk about decisions, but memories that we are going to carry for the rest of our lives. 
II believe that this moment marked and still marks the lives of many people, for example, I still remember my prom, a unique moment in which many things happened :).
But this is not the reason why I am writing this post. I am writing because I want to talk about a special tradition here in Norway, it's called RUSS.
According to wikipedia "The word russ is inherited from the Danish word rus, which as an abbreviation of Latin rusticus ("rural"), in former times used to ridicule new students at a university".

Every year before final exams, teenagers in Norway  purchase and decorate old school buses or vans and then drive around the country celebrating the end of school. 

 The Russ lasts for nearly a month and can cost each student up to 9,000 USD. Many teenagers save up for the occasion and some finagle corporate sponsorships.
 

Special facts about the Russ has to be mentioned, for example the clothes, Russ (youth taking part in the celebrations) are easily recognizable in April and May, when the russeknuter season is under way. They wear baggy trousers with big pockets, and a hat or cap with a long string at the end. The color of the overall should match the graduate's line of study: Red for courses that are geared towards higher education (this is the most common color), blue for courses in Business (also higher education in economics and management), black for Engineering (such as mechanics or electrics), and green for agricultural fields. Unfortunately I didn't see the last two colors.

But the most important items in the students' outfits are the hats, and the strings on them. The more knots and objects are attached the student's hat-string, the more respect the student is likely to get from his or her peers, because earning those decorations isn't easy.

 Each knot represented a prank played or a dare met during the month. These included running naked through the city center in daylight; biting the leg of a police officer then barking like a dog; and don't say a word for 24 hours.

Another essential accessory for every russ is a large quantity of Russ Cards. Russ cards (russekort) are mock business cards that the russ will hand out to anyone that asks for them. They contain a picture, contact details, and a slogan. Usually the picture is either a funny picture of the graduate him or herself, or a drawing, picture of a celebrity, or other funny picture. The name and contact details are usually spoofs, and the slogan is a joke.

On Norwegian Constitution Day on May 17th, a national holiday (also called National Day), the Russ marched in a parade to mark the end of their festivities.