Walpurgis Night

Walpurgis Night is a traditional spring festival at the end of April in many European countries.

A festival? Celebrating Spring? If only I'd found out about it a day or two earlier, I would have tried to get to Stockholm for the big event! Unfortunately, I already had to work on Saturday :( {Which isn't as bad as it sounds...I'm getting some pre-emptive hours in for another trip's extra days}

So, I found the one closest to me and walked the two kms, not really sure what I'll find except for a bonfire. And hoping it wasn't going to rain.

And this is what awaited me:

Nice! I would just like to mention that I'm not a pyromaniac, but fire does fascinate me.
Many nights have been spent next to camp fires. All through the night.

Well, not through the night this time. Not just because it was raining on and off.
Mostly because even though the atmosphere was great, it lacked the right company.
Actually, any company would have been great.

After some entertainment by a local singer, and a line dancing group, whose entertainment value went way up when a 2 year old girl tried to join in, the fire was lit.
It is also very funny to hear the locals say any words with a "J" in English. If you can and want to, say the word "just" as if it is an Afrikaans word, and you'll have it pegged.
And in some of the photos it seems as if the sky is playing along.

While the fire was going strong, a local choir sang traditional Swedish spring songs.

It all actually really reminded me of church bazaars back home. Kids fishing for prizes with magnets, throwing darts at balloons, running around with balloons and sweets (there were a LOT of grandmas...)
All in all, it was a small, but fun way to say "Hello Spring!".

Just to bad nature is a bit confused. Rain and even fast melting snow were our companions for the day, with no signs of clearing up soon.

And now I need to check if I have the ingredients for pancakes.

Njoy