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| Walpurgis Night Germany's Walpurgis and the Nordic celebration of Spring Each year, in the evening of April the 30th, Swedes and Finns celebrate Saint Walpurgis, one of the most popular festivities during the year alongside of Christmas and Midsummer. Walpurgis Night receives the name of "Valborg" in Sweden and "Vappu" in Finland, and is a very lively celebration where people spend the night together and sing traditional songs to welcome spring. The Walpurgis tradition is commonly associated with the feast of Anglo-German Saint Walpurgis. Walpurga was a woman born in England in 710. She went to live to Württemberg in Germany, where she became a nun and abbess in the convent of Heidenheim. Walpurgis was made a saint on the 1st of May 779, around the same dates than Scandinavians celebrated the return of Spring and the worshipping rituals of fertility associated with that season. With the conversion of the Swedes into Christianity, and since the time of year was the same, the Pagan and Christian celebrations became mixed together and resulted in the Walpurgis Night celebration. Walpurgis in Sweden: Valborg Valborg is celebrated in Sweden in different ways, always depending on the part of the country. Lighting large bonfires is a popular celebration in eastern parts of Sweden like in Svealand or Uppland, where people gather material for their bonfires for months ahead. Lighting bonfires is an ancient custom related to keeping away evil spirits, demons and witches. Nowadays Valborg is just seen as a celebration of springtime, but for a feel of the good old Viking days the Skansen Open-Air museum still celebrates Stockholm's largest and most historical Valborg celebration. For most of the Swedes though, Valborg just means the end of the winter season and there is no better way to celebrate it than singing Spring songs. Spring songs and choral singing are very typical of the Swedish Valborg celebrations, with many of the traditional songs dating from as back as the 19th century. The most popular and traditional spring festivities are held in the old university towns of Uppsala, Lund and Gothenburg, with its famous carnival parade. Current and graduated students party all day and all night, and even perhaps longer than that, wearing all the time their characteristic white graduation caps. Valborg is a double national festivity in Sweden because King Carl XVI Gustaf celebrates his birthday on Valborg's day, 30th of April. Swedish flags are raised all around the country to salute him and show him respect. May Day (May 1st) follows the Valborg celebrations with a wide choice of events, marches and demonstrations taking place across the country to celebrate the working class' rights. The 1st of May is a public holiday in Sweden, and many Swedes spend the day either attending the celebrations of political parties and trade unions, or simply enjoying a picnic outdoors with friends and family, weather permitting. Walpurgis in Finland: Vappu Vappu means in Finland an opportunity to match the traditional springtime revelry with the modern street carnival and the Finnish enthusiasm for drinking. Vappu is the holiday when Finns do their utmost to behave contrary to their reserved image, screaming through the streets with masks in their faces and drinks in their hands. Like in Sweden, student traditions are one of the main characteristics of Vappu. Current and graduated students party day and night with their characteristic white graduation caps. In Helsinki, one of the main events is the capping of the nude female statue Havis Amanda, the symbol of Finland's capital city. Friends and families get together for a picnic, and traditional delicacies and drinks are specially prepared and brewed for the occasion, such as Tippaleipä (sweet May Day biscuit) and Sima (mead). The 1st of May is a public holiday in Finland, and political gatherings are organised all around the country to celebrate the rights of the working class. For many Finns, this day is spent outdoors -- Vappu after all marks the end of the winter for the Finns, even if it may be snowing on this very day.
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