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Here in Sweden, when someone graduates from High School they call it Taking your Student: Ta Student! High School graduation is a big right of passage here in Sweden and there are some great traditions associated with it. First, the graduation hats look like captain's hats! The students wear these with pride around town as a symbol that they have completed their studies. Second, when the final day arrives, the Seniors all gather in the school and then at the allocated moment run out of the front door together! This is the Utspring (run out). Parents and family members and other close friends gather with signs that have a baby photograph of the graduate prominently displayed! 
Then, most importantly of all, the students get to ride around in an open top truck, blasting loud music, blowing whistles and cheering while a driver chauffeurs them all around town so that they can express their glee in graduating for all the town to hear! 
From the last week of May through the second week of June, we are constantly barraged by trucks, loud music with a blasting baseline and delighted, screaming students driving all around our neighborhood and throughout the city!The students are so happy and it's fun to celebrate such a great accomplishment. This year, we went to one the student's utspring.
It was fun to gather with his parents and sisters, and to be among the first to congratulate him and join in the festive atmosphere!
We have been invited to several receptions for the students. Last week we attended a beautiful dinner for one of Eritrean students. Notice the cake on the left is in the shape of the graduation hat!
The food was awesome, the crowd warm and welcoming, and the graduate thrilled and happy.
It was a pleasure to join the celebration. In the week ahead, we will attend a couple of more receptions and take joy in celebrating this great accomplishment of all our high school graduates.
I love the traditions surrounding graduation! Our good friend from Sweden shared her pictures of high school graduation with us a few years ago and I was struck by the festive, joyful, and innocent feel to the whole event. Is this something you see in your encounters? Over here- often kids use high school graduation to party all night and weekend long- consuming far too much drink- etc. I know Swedes still party all night long- but from afar it seems more innocent. Not as much about how wasted they can get but more about the actual celebration. Am I correct in this assumption?
ReplyDeleteHej Brita...well, I left out the part where they throw beer and champagne all over each other while in the truck and I think there are a fair number of drunk graduates as well...here in Sweden though drinking is so much more relaxed and there's no real drinking age (you can't buy until 20) so it's not the same culture. Still, the trucks are fun and the bonding with classmates is cool! Thanks for checking.
ReplyDeleteThe year I was there with my niece, the royal princess was graduating. I seem to remember many of the trucks carried her picture as well as their own. We didn't know what was happening at first; had to ask a local. It was fun to be there and absorb some of the excitement. Made US graduations seems dull :)
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