Catch a fire

 

 

The above are the first lines of ‘Längtan till landet – vintern rasat ut’ (‘Longing for the countryside – winter has gone away’), a song that is sung on Valborgsmässoafton, or Walpurgis night, which is celebrated each year in Sweden on April 30. It’s a  double celebration, since it is also King Carl XVI Gustaf’s birthday (born 1946), so you will also probably see Swedish flags waving in the wind to salute the king.  

Luckily for most of us, the next day is Labour Day (a red day or national holiday), so Walpurgis night is a great opportunity to huddle together around the fire enjoying some good food, drinks and conversation, without worrying about rising too early the next day.

After an extended, cold Norrland winter, the welcoming of longer, warmer and sunnier days is a blessing. And spring in Sweden really can be mesmerising – it’s like watching a documentary in fast forward mode, where nature bursts through and literally grows before your eyes!

The celebrations of Walpurgis vary from region to region, but in Norrland there is an unsurprisingly huge appetite for enjoying the spring and the coming of summer. 

Some say there is a strong connection with Beltane, a Gaelic pagan holiday meaning ‘the fires of Bel’, in reference to the Celtic sun god, Belenus. Others believed that on this day witches and sorcerers would hold a ‘Witches’ Sabbath’, during which they would engage in crazy dances and conspire with demons, and that is why people later used fire to try to drive out these evil spirits.

On a more serious note, during the Middle Ages the administrative year ended on April 30. On that night, merchants and craftsmen would celebrate, dance and sing, in celebration of spring. The annual village meeting was also held on this day, and a new alderman would be chosen, and eggs and schnapps would be served. Farm animals would also be let out to graze. Later on, in the early 1700s, bonfires were lit, guns were fired, cowbells were rattled, and sometimes yells or screams were hollered to keep predators, such as wolves, at bay. Whatever the night’s origins, most Swedes, and anyone living in Sweden, is happily celebrating Valborgsmässoafton just for the fun of it.

Veronica Olofsson, from Skellefteå, has been celebrating it with her family since 1996, when her oldest son was one year old: ‘We never celebrated this in my family until I had kids. My husband is very social so, together with some friends, we decided to make it a yearly tradition. I actually celebrate it as much as New Year’s Eve or Midsummer,’ she says. 

When the children were small they started the celebrations early, around eleven in the morning, by building the pile of wood, and eating a picnic while waiting for the sun to start to go down so they could start the bonfire and grill the ‘korv’. Eventually, as the evening wore on, the children fell asleep and the adults wrapped them up in blankets and tucked them inside a ‘pulka’ (a typical covered Swedish sledge), while the adults continued to sit by the fire and enjoy some more food, drink and conversation. Over the years Veronica’s family have maintained the tradition and now, even though their children are adults, they still gather every year down by the Skellefteå river at the ‘grillplats’ to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company from before sunset until the wee small hours. ‘It’s just a great opportunity to meet and share!’ says Veronica. ’We love it!’

 

Getting ready

Make sure that you pack an extra layer of clothing and have waterproof shoes or boots as the weather is still unpredictable in late April. In Skellefteå municipality each village can have their own celebration, so be on the lookout for more local information near the time.

In Skellefteå city, between Bonnstan and Landskyrkan, is the largest and most popular event with a big fire, coffee, and a men’s choir. However, if you decide to have your own bonfire, visit the municipality’s website for information regarding the rules: Valborgsmässoeldar – Skellefteå kommun (skelleftea.se). However you celebrate, have a great Walpurgis night!