Time to gather the family for the traditional Walpurgis celebrations, have dinner together and watch the bonfires.
On Skansen website you can read “The tradition of celebrating Walpurgis Night came to Sweden from Germany as far back as the Middle Ages. Walpurgis was an Anglo-Saxon underking’s daughter who travelled to Germany in the 8th century, where she became an abbess. After her death, she was canonised on 1 May and subsequently commemorated on that date.”
April 30th is a flag day – but not because we are welcoming spring and clearing the winter away (or remembering Walpurgis). No, it is a flag day because it is our kings birthday. Today year he turns 77 years old. This year is a double jubilee, marking 500 years since Gustav Vasa was elected king in 1523 and it is also King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 50th jubilee. Lots of reasons to celebrate.
Our family is coming over later to watch the soccer game on TV (fingers crossed.. ) and then to have dinner together. Later we will go over to watch the bonfires near by. I hope the rain will stay away today – so far so good.
– as I see it..