Celebrations...
Today I'm going to talk about two traditions in Finnish schools: Penkkarit and Wanhat.
Penkkarit, which could be translated sitting on a bench, is a party in which the seniors of high school, or as we call it, second uppendary school, leave their school and celebrate the end of their studies before taking matriculation examinations. Seniors, or abis as we call them, dress themselves up in carneval costumes, varying from nurses to polices, bananas to Powerpuff girls. I was an abi last year and dressed up as a cowgirl, my friend was an indian. Abis throw candy to the students of the lower classes and sing popular songs with new lyrics that match up to their feelings about school and its teachers. Finally, the abis are carried out to lorries which are decorated with sheets, painted with slogans, often resembling popular advertisement pictures and slogans. Then abis are driven around the town in lorries and they visit school and throw candy at passer-bys. Let's not forget the allways popular "Zero!" shout that expresses the feelings abis have about leaving the school behind: they are happy they no more have to sit at school. And at this time of the year, it's freezing outside, I got cold last year.
Eventually, abis leave for a cruise, drinking themselves to death.
Now, as abis have left, the "power" is passed on to the second-year student who in turn celebrate their new postition as the oldest of the school by dancing old dances. This tradition, as well as penkkarit, is not compulsory yet most want to take part in everything. Wanhat can be translated to oldies. The tradition consists of two parts: the first one is the dances. Students learn various dances such as Wiener Walz and tango and eventually show their skills by having a show to their friends and families. Most schools also invite students to dance at their school, excluding lower classes.
The second part is costumes. Each dancer dresses up. Girls have beautiful evening gowns, mostly rented and boys wear tuxedos. Usually girls also have their hair done and go to beauty salon to have someone do their makeup. I did neither of those things because it costs a lot. Some people use a horrible amount of money just to look pretty on that one day.
After the grand show, most dancers go to a place that has been rented for them and they celebrate by drinking, fighting, breaking doors, throwing up on neighbour's lawn. Yeah, that HAS happened.
On other business: I was supposed to write a story for FMA FFContest but I didn't have the time to finish the story. I'm furious.
Penkkarit, which could be translated sitting on a bench, is a party in which the seniors of high school, or as we call it, second uppendary school, leave their school and celebrate the end of their studies before taking matriculation examinations. Seniors, or abis as we call them, dress themselves up in carneval costumes, varying from nurses to polices, bananas to Powerpuff girls. I was an abi last year and dressed up as a cowgirl, my friend was an indian. Abis throw candy to the students of the lower classes and sing popular songs with new lyrics that match up to their feelings about school and its teachers. Finally, the abis are carried out to lorries which are decorated with sheets, painted with slogans, often resembling popular advertisement pictures and slogans. Then abis are driven around the town in lorries and they visit school and throw candy at passer-bys. Let's not forget the allways popular "Zero!" shout that expresses the feelings abis have about leaving the school behind: they are happy they no more have to sit at school. And at this time of the year, it's freezing outside, I got cold last year.
Eventually, abis leave for a cruise, drinking themselves to death.
Now, as abis have left, the "power" is passed on to the second-year student who in turn celebrate their new postition as the oldest of the school by dancing old dances. This tradition, as well as penkkarit, is not compulsory yet most want to take part in everything. Wanhat can be translated to oldies. The tradition consists of two parts: the first one is the dances. Students learn various dances such as Wiener Walz and tango and eventually show their skills by having a show to their friends and families. Most schools also invite students to dance at their school, excluding lower classes.
The second part is costumes. Each dancer dresses up. Girls have beautiful evening gowns, mostly rented and boys wear tuxedos. Usually girls also have their hair done and go to beauty salon to have someone do their makeup. I did neither of those things because it costs a lot. Some people use a horrible amount of money just to look pretty on that one day.
After the grand show, most dancers go to a place that has been rented for them and they celebrate by drinking, fighting, breaking doors, throwing up on neighbour's lawn. Yeah, that HAS happened.
On other business: I was supposed to write a story for FMA FFContest but I didn't have the time to finish the story. I'm furious.