What's the deal with Valborg?
Taking place at the end of April (April 30), Valborg is Walpurgis in English. It's celebrated in Europe and Scandinavia. It's the night, that Swedes dance around huge bonfires. In Gothenburg, Sweden, there is usually is a huge bonfire that takes place at the city park, Slottsskogen. In Stockholm, there are many different bonfires around the city, including one at Skansen.
Pre-pandemic, this also coincided with a parade through the city streets by the students at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. The parade consists of 50 truck carriages, and around 1000 students. Each carriage depicting, in a satirical and comical way, a significant event that has taken place since the previous parade (News events, local events, world events etc). The parade was started in 1912, but was cancelled a few times, including last year in 2020 due to the Pandemic. This year there will be an exhibit called the Minicortège, people can see.
We have so many fond memories of watching the Cortège parade and seeing all the amazing Student built and designed Parade Floats and vehicles!
The Walpurgis holiday originally came from celebrating "Saint Walpurga". It became a way to celebrate the end of Winter and a welcome to the warmer, Summer weather!
The next day is May 1st and is known by many different names, International Workers' Day, May Day or just Labour Day in Europe, which is a Public holiday. It occurs every year and is a day to celebrate workers and the working class.
Check out Göteborg.com to see what's going on in Gothenburg for Valborg. It might just be a day to have picnics/BBQs evening.
Glad Valborg, don't forget your snacks!
No comments:
Post a Comment