Utspring comes from ut (out) + springa (to run). You could translate it as "running-out" or "graduation dash".
On the day of graduation, students typically run out of the school building, class by class. Groups of family and friends will be waiting for them outside, often with posters showing a photo of the student as a child.
The tradition started in the 1960s, when students had a final exam to complete on their final day of high school. That's no longer the case, but the utspring is still going strong.
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Students will typically be wearing white (for women) and suits (for men) and studentmössor, which look a bit like sailors' caps. And the celebrations don't stop with the utspring; high school graduation is a big deal in Sweden, and the day continues with the students boarding trucks or floats to drive around the town, and parties into the evening.
READ ALSO: Why are Swedish teens in white hats singing and drinking on trucks?
Example sentences:
Utspringet äger rum på baksidan av skolbyggnaden.
The graduation dash will take place behind the school building.
Utspringet markerar en avslut på gymnasietiden.
The 'run-out' marks the end of upper high school studies.
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