Walpurgis Night
Publish date: 12 April 2024
Celebrate the coming of spring with a traditional Swedish Walpurgis bonfire on April 30th in Stockholm.
Walpurgis night, or Valborgsmässoafton, dates back as far as the Middle Ages. In the beginning, it was celebrated by merchants in the cities (the 30th of April was the end of the fiscal year) but it was also celebrated in the countryside, to mark the passing of spring into summer. Farmers would let their livestock graze late into the evening and lit bonfires to ward off any predators or evil spirits lurking in the shadows.
The bonfires are still part of the Walpurgis celebration, with a family-friendly bonfire event (and accompanying food stalls and choir performances) in virtually every part of the city. Nowadays, it’s also an evening of partying and clubbing; Since the 1st of May is a holiday, and the school year has started to wind down, Valborg offers many opportunities to enjoy parties and music in all of Stockholm.