Abiball und Abistreich

The Abiball is similar to the Prom (common in the USA) but it is only held once in a students life - at their graduation. Some might even call it "Graduation Ball". "Abi" ist the short form of "Abitur", the highest graduation form of High School ("Gymnasium") a student can reach. Before the German students have their Abiball, another event ist traditionally held: The Abistreich or Abigag. This day is often celebrated by graduees as their last official day of school. On this day, graduating students are allowed to "trash" their schools (not really, but most of the time there are things done such as removing all tables and chairs from the classroom, filling the hallways with cups with water in them or using tape on the railings of the stairs to make it difficult to get into the school.) It is also common that teachers and students who want to enter the school get sprayed with water and waterguns. Most of the time, the graduates also have a motto for their Abistreich. (For me it was: Abisturz - mit mehr Promille als Punkten durchs Abitur = Abi-crash- more (alcohol) per thousand than points through the Abitur). Graduates also create a small performance, often joking about teachers and their time at school.