Last Thursday (Feb. 16th), I happened to be downtown and about to cross the street to get to the pedestrian walk-way, when I realized that I couldn't quite cross because there were line ups on both sides.
At first, I was thinking : "Oh! A protest! But nobody's yelling and there's no signs or sandwich boards hanging off of these people..."
Then I thought something horrific had happened and there was a car/pedestrian accident and someone was seriously hurt or dead...and with snow on the ground and fresh blood...I know - my imagine ran wild.
Then I saw that there was absolutely nothing, traffic was going as usual, just not many people were crossing the street.
I looked both ways and went across...then I got brave and asked the first relatively young person I saw (and hoped spoke English) what was going on.
He thankfully spoke English and advised me that the 2nd Year students are about to have a Reading Holiday break, today was the last day of classes and then they are to study for their final exams in mid-Spring.
The students will be paraded up and down the downtown area via trucks and they will toss candy out to waiting passerbys and it's typical tradition.
So here's what I saw:
So these soon-to-be graduates do not get a prom. They write that final exam and graduate in May/June and then move on in life or into higher education.
The day after, (this parade of students is always held on a Thursday) the 1st year kids who will graduate next year (hence they're in their 1st year program) get dressed up in super fancy tuxedos and dresses and have their ball.
I happened to be downtown again today but without my camera, and saw many beautiful dresses and many handsome tuxedos and suits!
Traditionally the ladies wore old-fashioned dresses, but now it's been changed up a bit and it's more of a "prom"...and the 2nd year kids are the 1st year kids "slaves".
They get teased a lot and that's pretty much the extent of it from what I understand.
Why do the 1st year kids get a prom?
Because they are celebrating entering their final year of school.
Seriously.
In North America, prom is held for those that are graduating high school (completion is grade 12 - all grades are compulsory and average graduating age is 18 years old) and is held normally before the actual graduation ceremony. (Or at least that's how mine worked).
Congratulations to all those kids in the trucks!
At first, I was thinking : "Oh! A protest! But nobody's yelling and there's no signs or sandwich boards hanging off of these people..."
Then I thought something horrific had happened and there was a car/pedestrian accident and someone was seriously hurt or dead...and with snow on the ground and fresh blood...I know - my imagine ran wild.
Then I saw that there was absolutely nothing, traffic was going as usual, just not many people were crossing the street.
I looked both ways and went across...then I got brave and asked the first relatively young person I saw (and hoped spoke English) what was going on.
He thankfully spoke English and advised me that the 2nd Year students are about to have a Reading Holiday break, today was the last day of classes and then they are to study for their final exams in mid-Spring.
The students will be paraded up and down the downtown area via trucks and they will toss candy out to waiting passerbys and it's typical tradition.
So here's what I saw:
 |
| Waiting for the trucks to drive by again and some are bravely picking up candy and watching to make sure they don't get hit by a truck or other vehicle! |
 |
| Some people wore masks...or dressed as a Nun. |
 |
| They did it! |
 |
| Some dressed as Pippi Longstocking (she's from Sweden by the way), a cheetah, a Viking...the list goes on! |
 |
| Pretty sure Finns know what "ASS" is in English. |
 |
| Why not bring a light saber? |
 |
| The costumes were fun! |
 |
| Even Sponge Bob came along! |
 |
| The Mario Brothers and Wario... |
So these soon-to-be graduates do not get a prom. They write that final exam and graduate in May/June and then move on in life or into higher education.
The day after, (this parade of students is always held on a Thursday) the 1st year kids who will graduate next year (hence they're in their 1st year program) get dressed up in super fancy tuxedos and dresses and have their ball.
I happened to be downtown again today but without my camera, and saw many beautiful dresses and many handsome tuxedos and suits!
Traditionally the ladies wore old-fashioned dresses, but now it's been changed up a bit and it's more of a "prom"...and the 2nd year kids are the 1st year kids "slaves".
They get teased a lot and that's pretty much the extent of it from what I understand.
Why do the 1st year kids get a prom?
Because they are celebrating entering their final year of school.
Seriously.
In North America, prom is held for those that are graduating high school (completion is grade 12 - all grades are compulsory and average graduating age is 18 years old) and is held normally before the actual graduation ceremony. (Or at least that's how mine worked).
Congratulations to all those kids in the trucks!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.