:: Sunday, May 01, 2005 ::

Valborgmässoafton

Last night was Valborgmässoafton, otherwise known as Walpurgis Night, that old pagan throwback holiday when people sing and light bonfires to scare away witches and evil spririts going to visit the Devil. It also coincides with annual student festivities celebrating the beginning of Spring and the completion of studies at gymnasium. And finally, it is a night for drinking and revelry, as May 1 is May Day, the beginning of Spring and a national holiday, so people can drink and stay out late without having to worry about going to work in the morning. (Not so much a big deal this year, as today is Sunday, but try telling that to the Swedes.)

I went to the copper mine in Falun for the local festivities with my German friends Stefan & Christiane, and Christiane's mother and aunt, and we were joined by Klaas from Belgium, Ram from Uzbekistan, and Ania and Basia from Poland. It seemed like everyone in Falun was there, and it began with a procession of torches to a stage where a men's choir sang what I assume were traditional songs. They wore the traditional Swedish white "sailor's cap" that new graduates wear, although these guys looked like they graduated about 50 years ago. Then a woman sang accompanied by a guy with a guitar, which was quite beautiful. And then, it was time for the bonfire!



Accompanying the bonfire was a fireworks display, which was quite nice, and then we returned home. (Actually, fireworks had accompanied the entire festivities, set off by celebratory Swedes, but these were bigger and technically more professional.) The way home (as well as the way to the copper mine earlier) was like a war zone, as we passed wandering gangs of young Swedes with bags full of fireworks, shooting them off anywhere and everywhere they could, and generally making noise and having fun, lighting campfires down by the lakes, etc. This went on for most of the rest of the night. I felt like I as having flashbacks to the 'Nam. It was kind of like the 4th of July on crack, but in a good way.

I've posted some pics on my photoblog, so feel free to take a look. If you're interested in seeing more pictures and some short movies of the singing and bonfire, I've posted them here, although be warned that the movie files are quite large and that there are a lot of pictures of the fire. I like fire. Fire, fire, fire. And I had a digital camera, and kinda got carried away. So sue me.

So another Swedish holiday has passed, and maybe now we'll finally see some signs of Spring. Yesterday it turned cold & rainy, but it's been (relatively) warm lately, although there still hasn't been any budding trees or flowers or green of any kind. Just annoying seagulls nesting on the roofs and generally making a nuisance of themselves - clearly they think Spring is here.

So Happy May Day everyone! May your Spring be green and full of life and happiness.

Swedish words of the day: Valborgmässoafton, see above, and brasa or bål, which mean "bonfire"

:: posted by Rob 12:02 PM [+] ::

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