Posts tagged with "valborg"

Valborgsmässoafton

Posted by Katja 3 Comments
Apr 8 2010

Valborg, otherwise known as Walpurgis Night, is a pagan tradition celebrated in Scandinavia on the 30th of April (1st May in some countries). In Sweden bonfires are lit on in the evening of the 30th and coirs sing in light of the fire welcoming the spring. Traditionally people banged tins and made as much noise as they could to banishing any evil spirits or harmful animals that might be left lurking around before they let their animals out to graze for the summer.

Today it is the universities who offer the greatest celebration of Walpurgis night. On most campuses there are great firework displays in the evening as well as a breakfast or herring lunch (sillunch) offered by the university in parks near campus facilities if the weather allows such events to take place.

Sadly this is also the weekend when most people get drunk. Abuse (misshandel), drunk driving (rattfylleri) and the accidents they cause keep the police all over Sweden busy through out the weekend. It is also very common that young teenagers get so drunk that they can’t get back home after the night, so parents have made local organizations that walk around during the evening and night to help and support teenagers.

(foto: Hans Svensson)

Majbrasa = May bonfire

Sillunch = Herring lunch

Valborgsmässoafton = Walpurgis Night

Rattfylleri = Drunk driving

Misshandel = abuse (physical abuse)

Valborgsmässoafton

Posted by Transparent Language 2 Comments
Apr 30 2009

It’s April 30th and we all know what that means in Sweden – it’s Valborgsmässoafton or Valborg. In English this celebration is better known as Walpurgis.

This year it also marks the start of a really long weekend. Tomorrow – Friday is Första Maj (May Day), then come Saturday and Sunday, and the world will return to work as we know it on Monday.

But let’s talk about Valborg for a second. This holiday is observed not only in Sweden, but also in other Nordic countries, as well as in some parts of Germany. Of course, as with most ancient celebrations in Europe, this one has pagan roots, as well. And while I’m not sure how Valborg is celebrated in other parts of Europe, I do know how Swedes celebrate it.

As with everything else in Sweden, there are many regional varieties of Valborg festivities. One tradition, however, that remains the same throughout the country is the lighting of huge bonfires. People gather around the fire, sing songs and consume copious amounts of alcohol. Technically, the songs are supposed to be about the coming of spring, but in reality, what I’m hearing from the outside, is just a general merry singing of people having a good time. My neighbors are grilling, and the smell of sausages is making me very hungry.

The largest bonfire in our town is constructed by the university students on a field in front of one of the buildings.

Here’s a short video of a very dignified Valborg celebration in 2007 with the local student choir providing the entertainment portion of the festivities.

YouTube Preview Image

Tomorrow we have a couple of May Day demonstrations in town, and somehow I suspect that with the current economic crisis, there will be more participants on the streets than in the previous years. So, I better look up the lyrics to “Internationalen” (The Internationale), because last year I was mouthing them in French. And what was I doing at a May Day demonstration? The weather was nice, the sun was shining and it was such a shame to stay cooped up at home.

Have a wonderful long weekend! See you on Monday!

PS. Today is also the king’s birthday. Grattis, Carl Gustaf!

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