Sex, drugs, drunken debauchery and dares are all part of the “fun” for Norway’s final year high school students called the russ. 1st of May marks the beginning of the festivities, and from then until 17th they can be seen wearing their characteristic red overalls and caps and with a bottle of beer in the hand. What was meant to be an amusing rite of passage has become a destructive tragedy…
Typical Russ Clothes
The dares
Each year a competition goes on among the students as to who can get the most knots on their cap. A knot rewards a certain accomplishment during the russ period. These range from the most inoffensive…like:
- Spending a night in a tree
- Eating a big Mac in two bites
- Spending a school day crawling on hands and knees
To the most stupid and immoral such as:
- Drinking a bottle of wine in 20 minutes
- having sex with at least 17 partners
- Picking up a tender teen
Different knots according to what dares have been accomplished...
Expensive buses
In addition to the uniforms, caps, and dares, one of the most important parts of the russ celebrations are the “russebil” – cars or buses the russ decorate and equip with immense stereo systems. Inside, the buses are often fitted with TVs and entertainment equipment, couches, refrigerators. These buses can be a large financial burden; contributions of up to 22 500€ (200 000 Kr) per member have occurred. The average is between 1500€ and 4500€. Including sponsors, the cost of a bus can reach over 230 000€!! (2,000,000 Norwegian kroner).
Inside one of the most expensive buses!
Another one of the buses
JesusRuss
Luckily, the Christians do not shy out. Young Christians in their final year can join christian alternatives to russ: JesusRuss and KristenRuss. These set up tents at the russ events where they take care of sick and injured drunks, give out buns, being salt and light for those that realise that the partying is not as satisfying and liberating as expected…
One of the Jesusruss tents
[...] you heard of this? The tragedy of Norway’s Russ… [...]
Hello,!
I just stopped by from the Missionary Blogwatch page that you’re featured on. Wow, I have never heard of such a tradition. How heartbreaking. God bless your work in Norway!
~Ashley
Alright sir, I have a LOT to say about your judgement of a culture not of your own. My guess is that you are American like myself. I too spent time in Norway, and Russ is no secret, including what goes on during the 17 days.
Norway is one of the least religious countries in the world, therefor norwegian people are a lot more liberal with their bodies and sex. Do I think its morally responsible? Absolutely not, but that is how I feel. You need to know how outdated you are perceived by the people you live around and how out-numbered you are.
What I’m really trying to get across here is, just because this rite of passage disturbs your “christian” beliefs, doesn’t mean everyone else has to suffer your opinions.
Hilsen Dylan
P.S. Christian Russ are seen as a joke in Norway, to all the normal kids who participated in normal Russ with their friends, their peers, just like their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-great-great-grandparents did before them. Good luck changing an treasured cultural phenomenon.
Hey Dylan, nine months after your comment on my blog about the Norwegian Russ, I thought it might be time to answer…I’m actually not American, but an Englishman that grew up in France.
Yes Norway is quite liberal, but the society was build on Christian values. I have no problem with being perceived as outdated, as long as I know what I believe in is true. If it is outdated to believe life has a meaning, that we are not coincidences, that there is a moral law we can follow, that true love can be found, I prefer to go with the 1.2 billion of Christians around the world.
I never thought about forcing my opinions on everyone. If you can feel free to criticize my beliefs, I think I should also stand free to give some criticism to what I see in culture. I am not against the principle of Russ in itself, but what it has developed into.
Hope that you can take a debate without getting too offended. Be blessed!
OKAY?!! Im sorry to say, but do you guys have any idea what you’re talking about?!!!! What you’re saying is just extremely stupid, I’ve been in Norway during the celebrations, I’ve attended a Norwegian high school and eventhough they have these kinds of celebration the most of them are actually appriciating school more and they’re still in school during the weekdays!
They don’t give a shit about school when May comes, they work harder, to have fun during the celebrations and to be ready for Exams/Finals from May 18th.
The celebration is unik and thats what makes it fun to attend. I know lots of Christian people that also are attending the celebrations with a “Russebuss” and I mean the regular ones. Russ is a part of the norwegian grad celebration and I don’t think they care a bit about what others may think of their partying!
I am from norway ! WTF is this ? do you think that every bus costs 230 000€ ? its been one bus the last 4 years its been one bus, that had a total of 190 000 per person! This is a joke what you write ! hahhahaha ! This is a hole lot of different than what it really is. “having sex with at least 17 partners” Not true, its with 1 partner in the woods.. Grow up, if you are gonna write about others tradisions.. write the true things ! Omg… I am laughing my as of !
Hey Thea, thx for your comment…no I do not think that every buss costs 230 000€. I know that the average is much lower. I think the picture I give of the Russ is quite true. I didn’t either say that every russ has sex with 17 different partners, it was just part of the dares one year. As I said to some others, I am not against the principle of Russ itself, just what it has developed to be. I hope that one day you might see that all these short lasting thrills do not satisfy as you would like them too. I have found something that has given me true life, joy and forgiveness. If ever you face a difficult time, try praying to God, and you will see what how he can reveal himself to you.
I think it’s funny to see what you think about the norwegian russ. These days we’re not starting the celebration on May 1st. The partyinge beggins this friday (April 16th) and lasts until May 17th. What people ACTUALLY DO, during the period as a russ are so different to all the knots. Yes, it’s probably the world’s biggest party, so of course we get drunk. And if you want to spend 1000NOK or 30 000 NOK is all up to you, as a individual. This is a party like all the others, the only difference is the long tradition behind it. So all fun, no tragedy!
russ is tha shiit:D cant wait till i turn 18 and become russ!! norway <3
ok this shit bothers me!!! i dont go and talk about you religious people so why dont u mind ure own buisness?? prick! jesus to europe? lol. stop trying to change the world into a bunch of sad people who belive in a man living in the sky!
Hey Henrik! Thx for your comment…I am not against the principle of Russ in itself, just what it has become. Actually I happen to be a quite happy person. I’ve found something in Jesus that is maybe hard to understand if you believe we come from nowhere, have no meaning in life, and will find no meaning in death. But I hope on day you will be able to see that God exists and loves you!
Gud velsigne deg