Latada 2010 - II

Here they were doing a dance/chant that they call HAKA and I was fortunate enough to be in the right spot to shoot it.


About Latada: "In Portugal, the homecoming is known as Recepção ao Caloiro (The Freshman's Reception). It includes numerous events and traditions born in the 19th century in the University of Coimbra. It is defined as a welcome to the new students, the freshmen (caloiros), and takes place at the beginning of the academic year in Portuguese university towns. In every classic public university of Portugal the homecoming is celebrated yearly. The events are followed in varying degrees by other less traditional or smaller institutions. A street parade of students, concerts, and sports events are always organized for the freshmen's reception. The street parade organized in several major Portuguese universities is known as Latada, and its name comes from the tradition of tying tin cans to the freshmen's legs (the word lata is tin can in Portuguese).

The events are organized by the students' union of the University of Coimbra, the Associação Académica de Coimbra, and occur at the beginning of the academic year. It is an important part of the praxe académica (student praxis) in Coimbra, followed by the city population as an ancient cultural manifestation and local tradition, and is also a tourist attraction for a number of visitors every year."

Font: [link]


Photo:

. Canon 350D, 50mm f/1.8.

I stripped it down from Exif because I don't want to have that link to Amazon appearing.


EDIT: Wow. A DD! Thank you! Extra love for `Timothy-Sim, ^StamatisGR and `Tepara <3