Valborgsmässoafton with FEST! (Do not reply to this email)
Please join FEST! - Frien=
ds Encouraging Scandinavian Traditions on Saturday, May 2, 2009 for =
Valborgmassoafton=
!
We’ll celebrate Valborgmassoaftton=
/Walpurgis Night/May Dave Eve at:
The American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-871-4907
Meet on the front lawn of the Mansion and Veranda begi=
nning at 5:00 p.m. for the following:
We’ll have an exciting Kubb game (Viking l=
awn-toss game) on the front lawn of the Mansion beginning at 5:00 p.m., and=
a traditional Gatukok: Korv och potatis mos (Hot Dogs and=
Mashed Potatoes=97Swedish “street food”) cookout out on the Veranda at 6:0=
0 p.m. (Vegetarian food will be available, too.) Later, =
at twilight, we’ll enjoy an “urban” bonfire in the parking=
lot. We need someone to volunteer to bring their portab=
le fire pit=97wood will be provided. Let’s banish winter=
for good! Cost is $7.00 for FEST! Members, $10.00 for n=
on-members. Please RSVP by Friday, May 1, 2009, to Barba=
ra Anderson, or =
Jerry Johnson, jerryjohnson29@hotmai=
l.com so we can plan appropriately. Also, let=
them know if you have a fire pit to share. Don’t forget=
to bring your lawn chairs!
As a reminder, annual dues for FEST! are $20.00 Individual,=
$30.00 Family. Members receive discounted admission to individual ev=
ents. Dues may be mailed to the ASI in care of FEST! at the address a=
bove, or are payable at an event.
Read on for more background=
information on Valborgsmassoafton , Walpurgis Night and May Day in Sweden:=
Walpurgis Night in Sweden i=
s a very special event and a great way to experience Sweden’s traditions. W=
alpurgis (Swedish: “Valborg”) on April 30 is a widely celebrated event in Scandinavia, most=
of all in Sweden.
Walpurgis Night precedes Labou=
r Day in Scandinavia on May 1 and many Walpurgis events continue=
over night from April 30 into that holiday.
The forms of celebration in=
Sweden vary i=
n different parts of the country and between different cities. One of the m=
ain traditions in Sweden is to light large bonfires, a custom which =
began during the 18th century. Lighting the popular bonfires began with the=
purpose of keeping away evil spirits, especially demons and witches.
Nowadays, Walpurgis Night i=
s usually seen as a celebration of springtime. The Skansen Open Air Museum,=
for example, hosts Stockholm’s largest historical Walpurgis celebration.
Many Swedes now celebrate t=
he end of long, dreary winters by singing Spring songs. These songs were sp=
read by the students’ spring festivities and Walpurgis Night celebrations a=
re especially common in university towns like Uppsala.
Walpurgis (Valborg) being c=
elebrated on April 30 creates a double =
national holiday in Sweden. On this day,=
King Carl XVI Gustaf celebrates his birthday. So you’ll see Swedish flags =
all around the country to salute the King and show him respect.
May Day/Labor Day (May 1st)=
follows Walpurgis Night celebrations with a wide choice of events, parades=
and festivities.
Walpurgis in Swedish is =
“Valborg” and Walpurgis Night in Swedish is called “Valborgsmassoaft=
on”.
Find addit=
ional information about FEST! on Facebook: FEST! Friends Enco=
uraging Scandinavian Traditions. Locate information about th=
e American Swedish Institute at americanswedishinst.org
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Posted: April 28th, 2009 under Shared with E-List.
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