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30 avril 2006
7
30
/04
/avril
/2006
19:17
We have only a few weeks to get ready for the welcome celebrations of Spring, whether it is bright sunshine or snow storms. It is time for Valborgsmässoafton, or Walpurgis night, celebrated especially in the university’s cities on the last day of April, or “Siste April” as it is called in
Swedish. You should book the entire day in your calendar, and probably a part for the following day as well, for these festivities.
One way of starting the day is with a traditional sill (herring) picnic breakfast in Stadsparken early in the morning sun (hopefully). You will see that it doesn’t matter how the weather is, everybody will be wearing their newly purchased flowery summer dresses or light coloured linen jackets anyway. Go on celebrating with outdoor games, the nation’s form of Olympics, at the sport’s arena (Idrottsplatsen). After the Olympics follows the yearly speech given by the vice-chairman of the Student Unions, on the balcony of the AF-building. The traditional choir “studentsångarna”, will then sing and everybody will put their student caps on. For this is the only day of the year during which the Swedish students get to wear their student caps, the white (or yellowish, depending on the age of the wearer) caps all Swedish high school graduates receive on the last day of school. A perfect Walpurgis Night ends with one of the nation’s spring balls at Grand Hotel or in the AF building. Only a few of the nations actually arrange their ball on this night, while others have theirs some time during April. If you are not lucky enough to experience a spring ball, you can still enjoy looking at the formal dressed students on their way to their romantic evening. Or you can go to Stadsparken and look at the bonfires which are typical of Valborgsmässoafton all over the country.
An important fact, which is often forgotten in Lund, is that April 30 happens to be the birthday of King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden. The celebrations, however, do not end with that day, it continues on May 1. You have a second chance to listen to “Studentsångarna”. If we are lucky, the magnolias will bloom as a proof that spring really has come. During the last week of April you will meet schoolchildren insisting on selling you “May flowers”, or Majblommor, i.e. small coloured plastic flowers. Those are sold to raise money for the struggle against children’s diseases and disability. A very worthy and very affordable cause, as well as a very established tradition.
Swedish. You should book the entire day in your calendar, and probably a part for the following day as well, for these festivities.
One way of starting the day is with a traditional sill (herring) picnic breakfast in Stadsparken early in the morning sun (hopefully). You will see that it doesn’t matter how the weather is, everybody will be wearing their newly purchased flowery summer dresses or light coloured linen jackets anyway. Go on celebrating with outdoor games, the nation’s form of Olympics, at the sport’s arena (Idrottsplatsen). After the Olympics follows the yearly speech given by the vice-chairman of the Student Unions, on the balcony of the AF-building. The traditional choir “studentsångarna”, will then sing and everybody will put their student caps on. For this is the only day of the year during which the Swedish students get to wear their student caps, the white (or yellowish, depending on the age of the wearer) caps all Swedish high school graduates receive on the last day of school. A perfect Walpurgis Night ends with one of the nation’s spring balls at Grand Hotel or in the AF building. Only a few of the nations actually arrange their ball on this night, while others have theirs some time during April. If you are not lucky enough to experience a spring ball, you can still enjoy looking at the formal dressed students on their way to their romantic evening. Or you can go to Stadsparken and look at the bonfires which are typical of Valborgsmässoafton all over the country.
An important fact, which is often forgotten in Lund, is that April 30 happens to be the birthday of King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden. The celebrations, however, do not end with that day, it continues on May 1. You have a second chance to listen to “Studentsångarna”. If we are lucky, the magnolias will bloom as a proof that spring really has come. During the last week of April you will meet schoolchildren insisting on selling you “May flowers”, or Majblommor, i.e. small coloured plastic flowers. Those are sold to raise money for the struggle against children’s diseases and disability. A very worthy and very affordable cause, as well as a very established tradition.
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