Valborg, or, #2 in Zin's series of weird Swedish traditions no-one understands.

[zinnith]

In my country we celebrate spring by freezing our asses off and setting things on fire.

I had planned to go home and visit my parents for Walpurgis Night but work wanted otherwise. Instead I went to Linköping to celebrate with my friends and a bunch of other people I didn't know.

Here's a little guide. How you celebrate a traditional Swedish Walpurgis Night!

1. Freeze

It doesn't matter how high the temperatures were the week before - Walpurgis Night is always cold. It is, however, traditional to spend the evening outside, because it's supposed to be spring and when it's spring you have to sit outside in the grass. It doesn't matter that your fingers are so cold they're about to fall off (and of course you left your gloves at home, because it's spring). Beer might be consumed to take your mind off the cold. Unless you're on funny meds and can't have any. *pouts*  

2. Barbecue

You need a grill, some stuff to barbecue and a fight over whether or not the meat-eaters are allowed anywhere near the vegetarian grill and vice versa. The grill is also useful to warm your hands over. 

3. Find a bonfire

You need to burn stuff on Walpurgis Night. There also needs to be choirs (and they should sing off-key, it doesn't matter what anyone else tells you!) and helium balloons (which I didn't manage to take a pic of). There also needs to be lots and lots of people and speeches about spring. The fire we managed to find in Linköping was built on a raft in the middle of the water, which was very effectful, but also useless as a heat source. Yes I know, I should've brought the gloves *smacks self*.

4. Fireworks!!!





Walpurgis Night is not complete without fireworks! Pretty!!!

Now you've hopefully managed to scare away all the evil spirits and spring can begin. You can also go home and try to thaw out your poor frozen fingers, and write a strongly worded reminder to yourself to bring the gloves next year. (Which, of course, you won't. It's spring after all.)