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.

Walpurgis Night Celebrations

We celebrated the arrival of Spring last evening during Valborgsmässoafton. All over Sweden bonfires where lit and choirs where singing songs about Spring. I visited the celebrations in Västerhaninge together with around a thousand people. I missed the torch march but I heard all the songs.

Walpurgis Celebrations

Students all around Sweden put on their student caps on Friday. It is an old tradition and these days it means that all exams are over, and over the next 4 to 6 weeks before graduation the students will be busy partying like crazy. It is very expensive for their poor parents who will have to pay for everything! Just the cap will set them back 1200 SEK.The photos in this set are from Poseidon's Square in Handen, where students from one of the local secondary schools Fria Gymnasieskolan gathered to listen to (and sing with), the all male choir Birger that performed traditional student songs. The weather was amazing, like a normal Swedish summer day. I talked to a very proud grandmother whose grandchild Mikaela can be seen here somewhere. I also spotted the very cute Karin whom I met and photographed a few months ago. Later today celebrations will continue with more singing around the bonfires.

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.

Walpurgis Night Sunset

Another Tungelsta sunset. Tonight is Walpurgis Night in Sweden. Shot from the hill at Bergdalen. Read some more about Walpurgis Night here.