What is "praxe"

The Portuguese term praxe (from the Greek praxis (πρᾶξις)) describes the whole of student traditions in universities or, more often, to the initiation rituals freshmen are subjected to in some Portuguese universities. Praxe is replicated by other higher education institutions across the country. Examples include Queima das Fitas and its parade, the Cortejo da Queima, the Festa das Latas and the Latada, where the freshmen walk throughout the streets with cans on their feet, and the ripping of the traditional academic suit of the students when they finish their first cycle of studies. Its roots go as far back as the 14th century, but it became most known in the 16th, under the name of the "Investidas", in the University of Coimbra, the oldest of its kind in the country. The praxe is meant to initiate the freshmen into the University institution and to encourage the loss of social inhibitions. Tradition, ritual, humor, joy and parody are some of the main ingredients of praxe. Older students tend to produce funny situations and jokes with the freshmen; giving a warm welcome to them through initiation rituals. In most Portuguese higher education institutions, girls and boys have some gender-separated rituals to preserve dignity and respect. Most of the freshmen's rituals are performed collectively in order to avoid open ground for abusers. However, the older students sometimes take the praxe too far, when the initiation rituals, jokes and traditions are degraded into humiliation and violence, a violation of the code and values of the praxe. The president of the Associação Académica de Coimbra (ruling body of the praxe) has described such incidents as a stain in its principles, and supports legal action being taken against perpetrators. One of the mottos of praxe is Dura Praxis Sed Praxis ( Latin for the praxe is harsh, but it is the praxe, like dura lex sed lex). These incidents have led to criticism against the praxe, and the creation of student organizations against it.

An increasingly larger number of institutions organize alternative initiation events for the freshmen based on solidarity activities and community work - it is called "Solidarity Praxis" (Praxe Solidária).