Walpurgis Eve

by Rosita Larsson

Title

Walpurgis Eve

Artist

Rosita Larsson

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

The last day of April spells Walpurgis Eve, or Valborg, in Sweden. Spring is greeted with songs and bonfires at public gatherings all over the country. For the more politically active, these celebrations are followed by the demonstrations and heated speeches of 1 May.
For students, Walpurgis Eve is a foretaste of summer. Exams are soon over and only a few lectures remain before term ends. On the last day of April, the students don their characteristic white caps and sing songs of welcome to spring, to the budding greenery and to a brighter future.

Choral singing is a popular pastime in Sweden, and on Walpurgis Eve virtually every choir in the country is busy. In many villages and neighbourhoods, bonfires are lit at dusk, and people gather to experience that rosy red glow in the face from the heat of the fire and the freezing cold at the back. The spring sun may keep people warm, but when it sets the nights are still chilly.

Swedish Walpurgis Eve � The origins

In the Middle Ages, the administrative year ended on 30 April. Accordingly, this was a day of festivity among the merchants and craftsmen of the town, with trick or treat, dancing and singing in preparation for the forthcoming celebration of spring.

Among farmers and peasants, it was an important day in the calendar as the annual village meeting was held, with eggs and schnapps as refreshments. The meeting also chose a new alderman. At Walpurgis (Valborg), farm animals were let out to graze, and ever since the early 1700s bonfires (majbrasor, kasar) have been lit to scare away predators. People also fired guns, shook cowbells or yelled and screamed to keep the predators at bay.

In some parts of the country, young people went round singing May songs in return for gifts of food on Walpurgis Eve. Those who gave them nothing were treated to a �nasty� ditty. Elsewhere, people visited spas to drink the health-giving water and to amuse themselves.
And the lighting of bonfires to scare away witches

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May 4th, 2015

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