Welcoming spring with bonfires - Valborg celebration in Sweden
Hi and welcome to another blog about Sweden and all things Swedish. If you have been here before you know that I offer the best way to learn Swedish: with private online lessons, as well as small-group classes. I make Swedish language learning fun and efficient with direct access to a live native Swedish speaker. I always try to include Swedish culture and traditions in my lessons, and in today’s blog I will talk about a popular Swedish tradition - Valborgsmässoafton, or just Valborg for short.
After a long dark winter in Sweden people are understandably excited about the arrival of spring, and Valborg on April 30 traditionally marks the beginning of Spring in Sweden. In English Valborgsmässoafton is known as Walpurgis Night, after Saint Walpurgis. There are a number of traditions surrounding Valborg, but most prominent and best known are the big bonfires around the country and the large university student events.
Valborg bonfires (“Valborgseld”) - The tradition of gathering around bonfires on Valborg is mentioned in texts dating back to the early 18th century, but is thought to date back much further than that. The famous Swedish botanist Carl Von Linné described it as an “ancient tradition” in 1749. The origins of the bonfires on Valborg are uncertain, but a pervasive theory is that the custom was brought to Stockholm and the eastern parts of Sweden by German merchants during medieval times. In the late 19th century the custom spread to other parts of Sweden, where it is more commonly known as Easter bonfires (“Påskeld”). While a bonfire makes for a natural place to gather and celebrate, it was historically also used to scare away wild animals and perhaps bad spirits or mythical creatures. This was the time of year when cattle were let out to graze, and the fires helped prepare for this. Villages would often compete in building the biggest bonfires, so the result could sometimes be fairly impressive.
University student traditions - This is a wildly popular day with college students all over Sweden, and the arrival of spring is celebrated in various ways at the different universities. One of the largest events takes place at Uppsala University, which is the oldest university in Sweden founded in 1477. Crowds of up to 50,000 students collectively put their white student caps on at exactly 3 pm on Valborg. The day is filled with other activities, such a brunch that includes herring (“sillfrukost”), traditional songs, and speeches. Several of my students have learned Swedish to prepare for a move to the city of Lund in the southwest of Sweden, which is a major university town. At Lund University the customary Valborg celebration starts with a light breakfast with champagne and strawberries, and continues later in the day with barbecues in City Park and traditional songs.
So now you know what to expect if you happen to be in Sweden on April 30. It is a great opportunity to learn about Swedish culture and perhaps make a few new friends as well. Just remember to go easy on the refreshments! Just as with other Swedish holidays schnapps is often served, and I would not recommend trying to keep up with the locals in consuming this herb-infused liquor. But I do recommend learning some Swedish language before visiting. The easiest way to get started is to sign up for one of my free trial lessons below.
