Walpurgis night
Description:
With huge bonfires, the Swedes must frighten and discourage witches.
On April 30, Valborgsmassoafton is celebrated throughout Sweden.
In honor of the ancient German Saint Walburg at dusk, huge, four-storey high bonfires light up. In Sweden, they say that Walpurgis Night is just a meeting of spring, and with huge bonfires that are lit all over the country, the Swedes should scare and discourage witches who flock to the Sabbath on the night of April 30 to May 1.
On the streets of the city, children and adults walk around the city until early in the morning, sing songs, arrange concerts that mark the end of winter and announce the arrival of spring. The festivities take place across the country, but the most impressive celebration takes place at the Skansen open-air museum (Skansen is Europe’s oldest open-air museum) in Stockholm, where they aim to preserve the tradition of celebrating Walpurgis Night.