Valete
The valete is a festival that traditionally closes the school year of the St. Michael College in Freiburg . On the last day of school, all students take part in games (since the 1960s), and in the evening there are concerts in the Kollegiumshof, which, unlike the daytime activities, are open to everyone, as well as the Afte , which has ended the festivities in recent years . Since 1991 a group of the teaching staff has appeared about every two years. A class of the 3rd year organizes the valete. It elects a student committee, which is supported by the administrator and a director.
history
Since 1883 the best students in the upper grades were responsible for the implementation of this event, the origins of which are in the dark. In his 1914 book about the St. Michael College, former rector J.-B. Jaccoud the nightly procession of the valete, which ended the school year: the evening before, the collegiate organized a torchlight procession through the city and sang the valete (" Farewell ") with a Latin text they wrote on a melody that had been changed in 1870. Some of the "alumni" of the college are still familiar with this song. The procession, like today's festival, is said to be the legacy of an old custom from the Jesuit era. According to J.-B. Jaccoud's valete was already considered nonsense at that time, a kind of student prank that "disturbed the citizens in their sleep" and which was tried several times, especially in 1847, to be banned. However, the students continued to practice the custom without worrying about punishments or prohibitions. From the late 19th century onwards, everyone took part in the nightly procession, which was accompanied by songs and pieces of music from the fanfare . The move, which was followed by a meal until 1911, became a real spectacle for the city's population.
Running of the event
The content of the event has changed a lot in the 20th century and adapted to the zeitgeist, but its festive character and its function as a festive end of the school year are still alive. Another traditional facet of valete should not be forgotten: the evening organized for the teaching staff and administrative staff. On the eve of the summer holidays, everyone meets in a relaxed atmosphere for a meal, to which the former rectors and heads as well as the retired teachers are also invited.
literature
- Jaccoud: Notice sur le Collège St-Michel de Friborg. Freiburg 1914.