Helsinki students continue contested initiation tradition

Students took part in controversial nasujaiset initiation events in Helsinki and Espoo on Friday despite opposition from the cities, Yle reports. Upper secondary school first-year students were covered in ketchup, eggs, flour and sardines as part of the tradition.

Nasujaiset are a ritual organised by students in the Helsinki metropolitan area in which first-year upper secondary students are welcomed as members of their schools. The events have no official organiser, and the schools neither supervise nor take responsibility for what happens.

The celebrations began at Munkkiniemi beach in Helsinki at 5pm. Most participants appeared to be taking part in good spirits, according to Yle reporter Reeta Cremin, although there were also incidents. An egg hit a Yle camera operator and the camera.

Students from Munkkiniemi Co-educational School said they had prepared by wearing old clothes. Their class had been told to wear yellow.

“Probably most of our upper secondary students have come here. Eggs are being thrown at us, but let them come,” Henry Huttunen said.

Huttunen and Luka Lindgren said the event helped students bond and was part of upper secondary school tradition. Lindgren said their year would organise the same event next year. They said the tradition should not be ended, but that the limit was reached when someone was actually hurt.

Miro Heng, a final-year student at the upper secondary school of the French-Finnish School, said the tradition was acceptable as long as it was not taken too far. Other second-year and final-year students attended as spectators, saying participation should be a personal choice and that students were not pressured to join.

Newly initiated first-year students from the French-Finnish School said they had also wanted to strengthen their sense of community.

Upper secondary schools in the metropolitan area again strongly urged students not to attend the events this year.

Harri Korhonen, director of upper secondary and vocational education for the City of Helsinki, also urged parents and guardians to discuss the issue with young people. He said all upper secondary schools hold official welcome events where students can get to know one another and build group cohesion, and that there was no need to attend nasujaiset.

Korhonen said the events had involved serious incidents in recent years, including cases that led to criminal reports. He said many people other than upper secondary students, including unfamiliar adults, also come to the locations.

“There has been violence and sexual harassment, as well as less serious inappropriate behaviour such as humiliation and smearing people with food,” Korhonen said.

Korhonen also reminded students that not all upper secondary students take part and that participation numbers have declined over the years.