• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

True North Kitchen

  • Recipes
  • Browse by Category
  • About Me
  • Contact/Work with Me
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Browse by Category
  • About Me
  • Contact/Work with Me
×

Home » Recipes » Spring

Walpurgis Night (Valborgsmässoafton)

Published: Apr 30, 2019 · Modified: Jul 18, 2020 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links.

A bonfire and the night sky
Bonfires are the traditional way to celebrate Walpurgis night in Scandinavia

Walpurgis Night (April 30), is celebrated all over Scandinavia but especially in Sweden and Finland. The holiday is named after Saint Walpurga, a Christian saint known for her healing powers and her ability to repel witchcraft. Great bonfires were traditionally lit in her honor in an effort to ward off witches and evil spirits.

In modern day Sweden, Walpurgis Night is a time to gather around a bonfire to celebrate the arrival of spring with drinking, dancing and singing folk songs. Fortunately for those who overindulge, May 1 is a national holiday (their Labor Day). The celebrating continues into this next day with parades, picnics and other festivities.

In the Swedish university towns of Uppsala and Lund, Walpurgis Night conveniently falls at a time when the students are just about to hunker down and study for final exams. Needless to say, they take this opportunity to let loose even more seriously than the rest of Sweden. The morning begins with a breakfast of champagne and strawberries. The day continues with a huge street party and more champagne, some for drinking, some for shaking up and spraying in celebration.

Thinking of hosting your own celebration of Walpurgis Night this evening? If you have a fire pit in your backyard or live somewhere that permits bonfires you can really celebrate Nordic-style. But for most of us here in the US I'm guessing that's not an option. Maybe just a stroll around the neighborhood to admire all of the beautiful trees in bloom and then an outdoor toast with a glass of champagne to celebrate the return of warmer weather. Happy spring!

More Nordic/Scandinavian Spring Recipes

  • Closeup of a slice of kladdkaka on a plate next to a fork and raspberries.
    Swedish Sticky Chocolate Cake (Kladdkaka)
  • Close up of Toast Skagen topped with caviar.
    Traditional Toast Skagen (Swedish Shrimp Toasts)
  • Close up of Strawberry Roll Cake slices next to a fork.
    Strawberry Roll Cake (Swedish Rulltårta)
  • Close up of Easy Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd) on a plate.
    Easy Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd)

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Hi, I'm Kristi! Welcome to my cozy Nordic kitchen! More about me

SEARCH RECIPES:

The cover for Scandinavian Baking Favorites e-book

Enter your email below and receive a copy of my free ebook, Scandinavian Baking Favorites!



Scandi Breakfast Ideas

Baked oat and rye porridge with blueberries and almonds in a pan

Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge

A close up of a berry smoothie topped with blueberries and lingonberries

Nordic Wild Berry Almond Smoothie

Close up of Rye and Oat Muesli with Dried Cherries and Hazelnuts.

Rye and Oat Muesli with Dried Cherries and Hazelnuts

Close up of a bowl of Creamy Barley Breakfast Porridge with a spoon.

Creamy Barley Breakfast Porridge

Close up of a glass of overnight oats topped wit bananas, blueberries and strawberries next to raw oats and a spoon.

Vanilla Overnight Oats with Cinnamon

Toast with sliced egg, avocado and pickled beets on a plate

Nordic Avocado Toast with Pickled Beets and Egg

Top Posts

Stack of flatbreads on a plate next to herbs and a spiked rolling pin.

Soft Swedish Flatbreads with Garden Herbs (Tunnbröd med Trädgårds Örter)

Sliced rye bread on a marble surface.

Easy Overnight Danish Rye Bread (Rugbrød)

Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers in a jar next to peppercorns and fresh dill sprigs.

Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers

Slice of bundt cake on a plate with a fork.

Swedish Cardamom Cake (Kardemummakaka)

Sliced Swedish Almond Cake on a marble plate

Simple Swedish Almond Cake

Swedish pancakes on a plate drizzled with lingonberries.

Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberries

Crispbread and a rolling pin and kitchen towel

Easy Sourdough Rye Crispbread (Knäckebröd)

Rye bread slices on a plate next to a loaf of rye bread and a wooden knife with butter

Sourdough Danish Rye Bread (Rugbrød)

Categories

Footer

^ back to top

About
Work with Me
Contact
Disclosure and Privacy Policy
Accessibility Statement

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 True North Kitchen