The past two days in Jyvaskyla have been a lot of fun for the high school students...and those of us that got to watch it all!
Thursday (February 18th) was the last day of school for the third year students in lukio (university track high schools). Because high school is only three years these students are the equivalent of US high school seniors. Students at these schools have been taking classes for their three years of high school all in preparation for the big matriculation exam that they will take in a few weeks. They have the next few weeks free to study diligently (and have a little fun, I'm sure) for this very important exam. I have explained the exam in an early post so check that out if you don't remember much about it! Thursday's events were a celebration of their last day of high school and a way to blow off some steam before they get down to serious studying.
The five Jyvaskylan Fulbrighters were invited to Schildt Lukio to take part in Penkkarit. We arrived at the gym around 10:00 and found all the third year students dressed up in a variety of costumes - animals, characters from movies and books, cartoons and more. All around the gym were large sheets that were painted by students for the parade that would happen in the afternoon. The students then presented a variety of skits and songs to their peers and teachers. Even though I didn't understand what the students were saying it was evident that there were jokes about the teachers and the principal, friendly jabs at the school and peers and some truly heartfelt thanks to the teachers. Several teachers were presented with gifts and the principal and teachers played along and laughed at the jokes that were aimed at them. The youngers students were allowed to sit in the back of the gym to watch the festivities and between skits and songs students threw candy all around the gym.
At the conclusion of the ceremony the students prepared to leave for the parade in the "lorries" that were waiting outside the school. We had been hearing about the trucks that would carry the students downtown for the parade but didn't know what to expect since we hadn't seen any pickup trucks in Jyvaskyla since we've been here. These weren't pickup trucks; instead large industrial trucks lined the walk and the students were hard at work taping their sheet signs on the sides of the trucks and were climbing inside with their buckets of candy. The signs that decorated the trucks were all quite funny and referred to pop culture, cartoons, their schools and the upcoming exam. Some were much more inappropriate than I believe we would allow at most schools in the United States as they had some swears or referencing to drinking, but these students were allowed to proudly use them.
Edit: I have since learned that the students, not the schools, arrange for renting these lorries. I think I am correct in understanding that this parade is not an official school event so the students have more freedom with what they put on the signs because the schools are not censoring or approving what the students display.
Seniors from all the schools were part of the parade. Below are some images of some of the signs I saw.
A play on phrase "Netflix and chill" is in the above picture. Laudatur is the highest grade a student can get on the matriculation exam, and only about 5% earn this grade.
Here the students use the familiar Nike slogan and symbol to refer to the stress they are facing as they prepare for the matriculation exam.
Here's one of the more inappropriate signs with a reference to Breaking Bad.
The hat that Dobby is holding is significant to the Finnish students. When they pass their matriculation exam students are presented with this white cap that symbolizes graduation from high school and completion of the matriculation exam. It is what all these students hope and expect to earn in May. This cap has a long history as part of the Finnish education system and students all strive to earn this cap.
Abi is another name for the students that will take the matriculation exam and several references were made to it.
The truck drivers brought the students to the center of Jyvaskyla and then drove the students around the center blocks of town around the pedestrian area several times. The students on the trucks chanted and sang songs and threw huge handfuls of candy to the people on the streets. Candy littered the sidewalks and everyone, from young children to old ladies, bent down to pick up some. There were several parents on the streets with their children who held bags full of candy - perhaps even more than some children get on Halloween in America.
Friday was the Jyvaskyla Prom for the second year high school students and we were again invited to Schildt Lukio to watch the event. Besides the students wearing gowns and tuxes there was very little that was similar to any high school prom I have chaperoned or attended. Before ten o'clock in the morning the students arrived in pairs to the Schildt gym and the stands were quickly filled with parents, grandparents, teachers and friends. The girls had all been up since four or five in the morning to get their hair and makeup done and to get ready for the event. The students then danced for the audience for close to an hour. They performed a variety of traditional couple dances. It was so elegant! The students had all taken a dance course as part of their curriculum for six weeks for six hours a week! They had all chosen their dates weeks ago. We asked our guide, Satu, about what would happen if a couple was dating and then broke up. She paused for a moment and just said, "Nothing. You still go with your date and put on a neutral face and dance." It was clear that some of the boys and girls were nervous and they seemed a little stiff while other couples just seemed to relish in the dancing. Here's a short clip of once dance.
There was no DJ, flashing lights, or grinding. No making out or excessive cleavage. There weren't even decorations in the gym. Pure class and no drama. Not all the students participated and Satu explained that some students don't attend because they want to make a statement and go against the grain. Some other students don't attend for religious reasons but the very large majority participate.
After the students performed several traditional dances the students were then asked to invite someone else onto the dance floor. Many students invited their parents to take part in a dance while others grabbed younger siblings or friends. Two more songs were played so that everyone could dance. These were two additional traditional songs and it was evident that almost everyone knew the steps. The guests returned to their seats and one final dance was performed. This was a dance choreographed by the students in the class and was a compilation of several songs and included The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Gloria Estefan's Conga. This was the "school dance."
At the conclusion of this dance the students spent the rest of the morning taking pictures with friends and dates in the gym and then outside in the snow. It was definitely a little strange to see the girls in their beautiful gowns standing in front of huge snow drifts instead of flowering trees!
The students were then permitted to leave because their day had only just begun. In the evening the students will gather at a huge complex in central Jyvaskyla with second year students from all the high schools in Jyvaskyla. There each school will perform their school's choreographed dance and the students will then again take part in the traditional dances that they have now all learned. Each student is given three tickets so parents will once again attend this event.
Tonight after the Prom most students will travel with friends (or be driven by parents) to cabins outside of Jyvaskyla to spend the weekend partying. When they return to school on Monday they will be the oldest students in the school and will continue their studies for the remainder of the year.
It was so cool to be a part of these events. While these traditions are different from what I have experienced at home, they made me a little homesick for my students. The assemby on Thursday reminded me very much of Marvelwood's class night where students read quotes from all the seniors that include favorite memories, teachers, and classes. Sprinkled throughout are performances of songs by various groups of students. I will be so sad to miss that this year. While this Finnish prom was nothing like the American prom, I look forward to seeing pictures of my students all dressed up to participate in their own high school rite of passage. So Marvelwood students, what would you think of a prom like this? Formal dancing only? Parents there to watch? I'm sure we could work on it!! :-)