for you Illuminati

[threeplusfire]

SWEDEN: WALPURGIS NIGHT

On this night, spring is welcomed by festivities throughout Sweden.
Huge bonfires are built, torchlight parades are held, and songfests
commemorate the death of winter. This tradition dates back to the
Middle Ages and has pagan roots.

Comments

[myredself.livejournal.com]

Are you talking about Valborgsmässo Afton? It's wonderful.

Re:

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Have you ever been? I was reading about today's holidays and came across it. I don't know much about it, except from those links. One of those things that makes me sigh and add another language to the list of ones I want to learn.

[myredself.livejournal.com]

Yes, we used to go when we lived there, which was only until I was 5, so I don't remember much except for the huge bonfires and sense of community.

[bobjones.livejournal.com]

I missed out on seeing the singing and fires (which aren't uncommon here), but from what I heard, it didn't sound that great.
I did see the Chalmers Cortege 2001 in the centre of Gotheburg, though... that's an interesting tradition.

Re:

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

What is the Chalmers Cortege about?

[bobjones.livejournal.com]

I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's just another part of the "last-day-of-April" celebrations -- all of the students do like a show on the backs of trucks and so on down the Avenue.
These "shows" are mainly typical (drunken) student jokes, making fun of different events throughout the past year and so on. Some interesting things were a Jeep-like vehicle with a small jet engine attached, a marching band and baton-twirling girls, a giant dummy being fed Viagra and stuff like that.

The funny thing about these celebrations, of the departure of winter and to welcome warm weather, was that it was actually warm yesterday and today.

Re:

[myredself.livejournal.com]

My dad went to Chalmer's. Strange.