April 30 in Sweden
In the old times the Witches went to Blåkulla on their brooms last night of April.
Today we in Sweden call that day Valborgsmässoafton. Probably we imported the tradition of lighting a bonfire fire on that night from Germany, way back.
Today we celebrate is in a multi layered celebration. Some makes it a family celebration taking the kids to a bonfire where there also a bit of a mini carnival going on. Definitely there will be a fire and someone singing. In the working class parts of Vällingby where my kids used to lit the fire back then, there was always a cover band and some local rapper on a mobile stage. Candy and other kid stuff. No one really had a Student cap on. I guess because of the poor level of education of the area.
In other parts of Sweden like in the student city of Lund with its University, there are people dressed up in their evening dress, student cap on and singing the traditional songs.
For many young Swedes it will be the first time they get drunk. And very drunk according to the police reports.
In Uppsala the Valborg celebrations is taken to a whole different level. Worth a visit to watch. Unfortunately my old photos from it is of such poor quality so I post some videos from the net to show.
Styrofoam boating down the Fryrisån and the Champagnegalopp run down from Carolina Rediviva to glasses of Champagne at the student pubs etc.
God Valborg på er alla!
The Kids Valborg
Student cap on!
Official ritual in Uppsala
Uppsala
Traditional song event in at University of Lund
