The bonfire that never was

Last year it was the strong winds that caused a few problems with the bonfires during Walpurgis Night. This year it was the very dry weather. There has been fires burning uncontrolled all over the country in the last few weeks. This was supposed to be the bonfire at Stav in Tungelsta, but in the end everyone agreed to burn a smaller bonfire just to the left of the real bonfire. So this was how the bonfire that never was looked yesterday.

Walpurgis Night

We celebrated the arrival of Spring today. That is what Valborgsmässoafton/Walpurgis Night stands for in this country. Thousands of bonfires burn all over Sweden as people gather around the fires talking and drinking. A choir sings a few songs about Spring as the kids run around or eat candy. I stopped at two such bonfires this cold and very windy Walpurgis Night. The fire in Tungelsta had already burned out when I got there on the Steel Horse so I pedalled five kilometres against the strong wind to the bonfire at Kyrkbacken in Västerhaninge where a few hundred people had gathered, including a couple of fire-fighters that kept an eye on the big bonfire. The fire was moved the evening before to give the local hedgehogs a chance to survive. The church in the background is the Medieval church in Västerhaninge.

Pro Palata Plakatum

We celebrated Walpurgis Night yesterday. It is very serious stuff. All around the country choirs are welcoming spring by singing all the traditional songs. This is the male choir Birger. I met them at Poseidon's square in Handen. It's their busy time of the year. They performed at three secondary schools on Friday. The choir has a motto. För Fulla Fegel. Or in (fake), Latin, Pro Palata Plakatum. They are based here in Haninge and have often performed at the Cultural Centre. One or two of the members might look familiar to you if you saw my post about Translations For Higher Resolutions. Learn more about the student cap that they are wearing here. If you want to hear what they might sing check out this.

Flying the flag for the King

This is Hammar in Tungelsta. Built by Frans G Upmark back in 1816. The Upmark Family still live here today. Same place more than 100 years ago. It's flag day today as the King turns 61. It's also Walpurgis Night which means that at least 50% of all swedish teenagers will be running around in a drunken rage tonight. I'm sure you will be able to read about that in The Local tomorrow. The rest of us will be content with celebrating the arrival of spring at any of the many bonfires that will be lit tonight. But to be honest me and my friends did have our first drunken Walpurgis in Tungelsta when we were 12 years old back in 1976. HERE is a view of a bonfire I photographed this evening.