Comments on: Norwegian Russ: Norway’s Partying High-School Graduates

By: Thanh Phạm Thị Hồng

Thanh Phạm Thị Hồng — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:21:37 +0000

It’s very strange for me.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 07 May 2013 05:05:09 +0000

I live right near a very large high school and the first morning catching the train I was a little perplexed. A lot of high school kids (around the world) have similar sorts of celebrations as graduation nears although perhaps not quite to the organized extent of russ. It seems crazy to me to be so early in the year – school hasn’t even ended yet!

By: Tora

Tora — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:37:23 +0000

In reply to Odd Helge Lindseth. And (as a russ of '13), there's a sort of stigma related to spending money... If you don't spend at least 5000,- on the celebration, you're considered somewhat of a weirdo and, following that, an outsider. Despite the fact that lots of us don't even drink, let alone want to go to those big, organized parties...

By: Mandi | No Apathy Allowed

Mandi | No Apathy Allowed — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:33:43 +0000

Ahh, this post explains so much! I’m only in Norway for two months, and couldn’t figure what the deal was with all the teenagers in red overalls roaming in packs around the city on Saturday. I saw little kids approaching the teens and asking for something, but thought it was maybe candy. So glad to have come across your post — this makes way more sense than anything I would have been able to figure out on my own. 🙂

By: Odd Helge Lindseth

Odd Helge Lindseth — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:12:52 +0000

As a russ from the great year of 1984 (Russ ’84! Yeah!) I feel the need to give some perspective here … It might be that I’m getting older but it looks like being a russ becomes more expensive every year and filled with more russ activities than the year before. There are many commercial interest involved (organizers of parties etc.) that contributes to this. The whole logic of being russ also contributes to this snowball effect. Every year you will hear russ saying something like this: “This year I’m russ and it’s going to be the best russ season ever!”. And so it goes! This year’s russ will be a little bit louder and party somewhat harder than the russ last year. But I’m not complaining. I always travel abroad in the high season of Russ in mid-May.

By: Mariola

Mariola — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:30:35 +0000

Really interesting! I didn’t know about it before 🙂

By: LisaLDN

LisaLDN — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:13:56 +0000

This makes me miss my Russ time! It was such a good time, with memories I’ll never forget (like camping in our teachers garden without their knowledge, and then serve them breakfast before school the next morning). It is fun to read an ‘outsiders’ take on it, and you got it pretty right 🙂

By: Tora

Tora — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 09:46:37 +0000

Hey! Thanks for the post 😀 it’s fun to see someone else describe this.
as a russ myself, it’s even more fun since I know all the insanity is accepted! well, now I’m one of those who’d rather be crazy on public transport rather than an expensive bus (spending >80.000kr on this celebration isn’t exactly a good idea). Also, something to add to the post; all the crazy things we do is to get specific objects to tie in our hats on May 17th. We need two fellow russ to witness our doing any of those (russeknuter) in order for them to be valid, so don’t be surprised to see lots of russ in shopping carts at fast food drive-throughs.. other “knuter” include hugging a police officer, flirting with one’s teacher, giving a rose to a random, attractive stranger, drinking half a liter of beer/cider without using your hands or getting assistance, doing a poledance on public transport… and so on. it’s all crazy, sometimes nice (donating money to charity and food to beggars), but always fun. There’s an official list of those “knuter” on russenshovedstyre.no, and it changes every year, so the weird tricks change.
Again, it’s fun 😀 Being surrounded by kids at least once a day, however….. not so much.

By: afrodite

afrodite — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:33:22 +0000

Thanks david for the post. I see them every day and I wondered why they are all dressed like this. I didnt know what it is. I thought maybe a football team or a hokey team etc. But now I know. Well I would like to see the part when the fire department will wet them all. That would be fun….