a longa noite dos tempos: "Rasganço"

Here in Coimbra we have one of the oldest universities in the world, it was established in 1290. There are old traditions and some stupid ones as well. But this one that I’m going to talk about is funny, at least I think so. There is a typical suit for students, but it’s really a suit, it’s completely different from Finland (the Finnish one looks like a metal worker suit, but with different colours).

Finnish suit for students

This suit was created so the poor and the rich students could be evaluated in the same conditions, only about their knowledge. And students used to use the suit every day. But now most people just use it for the big party in the end of the academic year. This party it’s called “Queima das Fitas”, in English it’s “Burn the Ribbons” and it’s a symbolic act to finish studies, something like graduation day. It starts in the first Thursday night of May, at midnight, so it’s more like Friday, with a big “Serenata” (it’s typical “Fado” songs, made about love, to sing for girls, while they are on the window, and the boys down in the street with a guitar) and this guys are singing it in the front door of the oldest church in Coimbra, and all the 35 000 students around watching in silence. After this night there are eight nights of concerts in a proper place, lots of sport competitions and a big big parade with more then 100 trucks all covered in flowers with students on the top and giving free beer and food for everyone. This is the party where more beer is drunk in the whole world, even more than in beer party.

So after you finish your studies, you don’t need your suit anymore… soooo… they tear it apart. Girls only can be tear by girls, and boys by boys, but everyone could watch it. They make this in the main street of the university and they throw the pieces of fabric to the trees near. Usually boys end up naked, running after the guy who was the only piece that is not torn. Girls can keep some of their cloths, and it depends on the girl if she wants to be more or less dressed in the end. This “ritual” is called “Rasganço” in English something like “Torn”.

So I will put here, some photos and also a video. If you have some doubts just ask.