The walpurgis eve celebration on Riddarholmen, with Stadshuset in the background. Photos © Robert Corkery 2012.
Winter is done. Over. We burned it out of town last night. Today is valborg or May Day in Stockholm. It’s a holiday and last night was walpurgis eve or bonfire night. All over Sweden, fires were lit to burn off the last of winter and launch us into spring. Let’s hope it works. I like the symbolism of the night in all its many facets – that you are literally burning or getting rid of all the winter junk in your yard, including the branches and leaves, and I also like the idea of celebrating the move from one season to another. For students, valborg means freedom – exams are over and they are getting ready to graduate. And for me personally, I like the idea of getting rid of old baggage and moving on.
We went with a group of friends to the Valborgsmässoafton on Riddarholmen in the center of town. It was absolutely packed with people. Traditional songs of spring were sung as usual. But then, rather inexplicably, karaoke of the very worst kind started – sappy songs sung by people who can’t sing. And that’s when our group of eight decided it was time to move to the pub.
The pyre.
The crowd with Lake Mälaren and Södermalm in the background.
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