Valborgsfirande: Goodbye Winter and Welcome Spring!

Valborgsfirande: Goodbye Winter and Welcome Spring!

By Asnate

What Is Valborg? And Why Do Swedes Celebrate It?

This old Swedish tradition is famously celebrated by lighting large bonfires, singing spring-themed songs, blasting fireworks, and for the young adults – partying it up a bit.

The Valborg tradition originated from Germany and was introduced in Sweden during the middle ages. Saint Walpurga, an abbess at a monastery during the 700s, was declared a saint on May 1 during the 1400s and has since then been celebrated on May 1 by the Germans, originally calling the holiday “Walpurgisnacht”. The name, Walpurgis, inspired the Swedes to name the holiday, Valborg.

Why do Swedes light bonfires and use fireworks? There is more than one theory about this – the most accepted one being that May 1 was considered a day in which evil spirits and creatures from hell, such as witches, would be among the people and more empowered. Because of this, people would light big bonfires in the hopes that it would frighten the witches and satanic creatures away. Another theory claims that it originated from a time when people were forbidden to ring the church bells. In order to gather together, they would light large bonfires instead.

Nowadays, Swedes celebrate Valborg as a way to welcome spring. The day also happens to fall on the same day as our king Carl XVI Gustaf’s birthday, which is a celebration in itself.

There are several places you could visit if you are interested in celebrating Valborg:

Or check out some other places suggested by Visit Stockholm: https://www.visitstockholm.se/se-gora/sevardheter/valborgsmassoafton/

Uppsala is also celebrating this event. You can check the program here: Program – Valborg i Uppsala

Asnate is a member of the SDCN Management Team at the Stockholm Academic Forum. 

This article was published on the 26th of April 2022.

 

 

Last updated 2022/04/26

By Asnate

What Is Valborg? And Why Do Swedes Celebrate It?

This old Swedish tradition is famously celebrated by lighting large bonfires, singing spring-themed songs, blasting fireworks, and for the young adults – partying it up a bit.

The Valborg tradition originated from Germany and was introduced in Sweden during the middle ages. Saint Walpurga, an abbess at a monastery during the 700s, was declared a saint on May 1 during the 1400s and has since then been celebrated on May 1 by the Germans, originally calling the holiday “Walpurgisnacht”. The name, Walpurgis, inspired the Swedes to name the holiday, Valborg.

Why do Swedes light bonfires and use fireworks? There is more than one theory about this – the most accepted one being that May 1 was considered a day in which evil spirits and creatures from hell, such as witches, would be among the people and more empowered. Because of this, people would light big bonfires in the hopes that it would frighten the witches and satanic creatures away. Another theory claims that it originated from a time when people were forbidden to ring the church bells. In order to gather together, they would light large bonfires instead.

Nowadays, Swedes celebrate Valborg as a way to welcome spring. The day also happens to fall on the same day as our king Carl XVI Gustaf’s birthday, which is a celebration in itself.

There are several places you could visit if you are interested in celebrating Valborg:

Or check out some other places suggested by Visit Stockholm: https://www.visitstockholm.se/se-gora/sevardheter/valborgsmassoafton/

Uppsala is also celebrating this event. You can check the program here: Program – Valborg i Uppsala

Asnate is a member of the SDCN Management Team at the Stockholm Academic Forum. 

This article was published on the 26th of April 2022.

 

 

Last updated 2022/04/26

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