I’m jumping ahead a few days here because today is a special day in Sweden. Traditionally, Walpurgis Eve is a day of celebration on the day before St. Walpurgis is celebrated and dates back to the middle ages. The day celebrates the coming of Spring or the coming of the growing season for farmers. Walpurgis Eve falls on April 30 and tomorrow is May 1 or May Day and International Workers Day-the Swedish Labor Day holiday.
It’s been quite cold most of the time while I have been here. The day of our trip to Stockholm was cool but still nice. Today the weather has turned beautiful, perfect for the celebration tonight. Tim’s daughter Li, son Finn and granddaughter Momo will be coming to join us tonight.
Walpurgis Eve is celebrated by big bonfires and gatherings. Tonight we’ll have a bonfire here at the farm (i.e., the larger farm with the community in attendance.) I’ll add pictures of that later. Tim’s local chorus will be singing at the bonfire. Also traditionally people gather to drink and young people gather for drinking and reveling. Nearby Uppsala is a university town, and the students get started on their pre-party parties a couple of days early. One of the big events is a Styrofoam boat race down the Fyris river, organized in 1975 by the Uppsala Union of Engineering and Science Students. I was able to watch it on live video and I was able to capture some of the boats. The makeshift boats go down the river and over one or two falls, hoping to survive intact. They aren’t always successful! It reminds me of the Seafair Milk Carton Races held in Seattle at Seafair time, or a wet Red Bull Soapbox Derby race.
The King’s Birthday
Today is also Swedish King’s 80th birthday. Carl XVI Gustaf is a real king, not a a wannabe king. He is quite popular in Sweden, although this is a constitutional Monarchy in which the Royal’s have primarily a ceremonial role.
Tomorrow is Li’s birthday and May Day!
Cool! Have fun.
Very interesting! Love the pictures and all your updates!