Valborg
Yesterday (Sunday 30th April) was the celebration of St. Valborg's day (pron. "Val-borrie"). The origins lie shrouded in mystery (not really, but I'm not going into it here). Basically it is celebrating by lighting big bonfires to scare the scary animals back into the forest and burn any witches that are still loitering around. Swedes wear their graduation caps, which can either look like white sailors hats or here seem to be red velvet jobbies with curtain cord tassles hanging off them.
At the University, the bonfire was ingited on Tue, so they had to make a new one for yesterday. Often all sorts of miscellaneous goods end up on the fire (it is the weekend for spring cleaning after all), so there are smaller fires set up around the bonfire for grilling sausages or marshmallows without having broken glass or rubber fumes coating the food. Prior to the fire there was some singing of traditional Spring-is-coming songs, and fireworks afterwards.
Until the fire was lit it was pretty cold, so several snaps, and a few beers were had to keep up the warmth. It is time for temperature denial in Sweden, after all Spring is here! Although the sun is out (for 17hours a day), and the shorts and t-shirts are starting to make an appearance, it is still only 5-12 degrees during the day. I must say after being at -15 for a while, +5 does seem unreasonably warm and I've also been sucked into dressing down for a mild spring day with not much on and going outside, wearing much less than I would on a similarly 'cold winter's day in Melbourne'. Some pics:
Some pre-entertainment. ACDC covers - Accadacca is absolutely everywhere here in Sweden. I don't think I've been to any kind of public event without hearing some 'Thunderstruck', or 'TNT' over the loudspeakers. Hell's Bells makes also makes a good Christmas carol...
At the University, the bonfire was ingited on Tue, so they had to make a new one for yesterday. Often all sorts of miscellaneous goods end up on the fire (it is the weekend for spring cleaning after all), so there are smaller fires set up around the bonfire for grilling sausages or marshmallows without having broken glass or rubber fumes coating the food. Prior to the fire there was some singing of traditional Spring-is-coming songs, and fireworks afterwards.
Until the fire was lit it was pretty cold, so several snaps, and a few beers were had to keep up the warmth. It is time for temperature denial in Sweden, after all Spring is here! Although the sun is out (for 17hours a day), and the shorts and t-shirts are starting to make an appearance, it is still only 5-12 degrees during the day. I must say after being at -15 for a while, +5 does seem unreasonably warm and I've also been sucked into dressing down for a mild spring day with not much on and going outside, wearing much less than I would on a similarly 'cold winter's day in Melbourne'. Some pics:
The heap
Some pre-entertainment. ACDC covers - Accadacca is absolutely everywhere here in Sweden. I don't think I've been to any kind of public event without hearing some 'Thunderstruck', or 'TNT' over the loudspeakers. Hell's Bells makes also makes a good Christmas carol...
Due to the ground being too soggy, the cooking fires were in the carpark
The view outstide now. Sun, a little snow on the ground, and the picnic tables and bbq sets are coming out of the cupboards
On the way home, sunrise, 4am.
posted by Mark Terner at
3:15 PM
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