Initiation Traditions in Slovenia and Latvia
Some (especially high) schools around the world practice initiation as a part of an integration process. Depending on the country, the initiation as well as the attitude towards it varies. It takes different shapes and forms; some try to avoid it, but some have great memories to share. I took a closer look at two countries - Slovenia and Latvia - for a detailed comparison. Initiation in Slovenia. Source: . Imgur.com In Slovenia, initiation has different names, most commonly it is referred to as ‘iniciacija’ or ‘fazaniranje’; the latter derives from ‘fazani’, which is what freshmen are usually called. The word means a bright-colored and long-tailed pheasant. In those Slovenian schools, where initiation has become a common practice, the event takes place on the first day of the new school year and only lasts one day. It’s usually on the 1 st of September. ‘Fazani’ can be easily spotted as they have to wear some special clothes or extensive makeup, but the most common...