Celebrate spring in Uppsala, Sweden

Celebrate the coming of spring and the joy of youth in the University city Uppsala in Sweden.

The last day of April, “Valborgmässoafton”, is a national holiday in Sweden –the official date when winter turns to spring, and is joyfully greeted with big bonfires -historically in protection from witchcraft, causing gatherings of the young and the old in every neighborhood. Usually, a prominent citizen holds a speech in honor of Spring, Light and Promises, and besides the bonfire there are fireworks, entertainment, hot dog stands, and choirs singing loved hymns like “ Winter is falling down the mountains...” that everyone knows by heart.

Spring is often associated with youth so the biggest parties are held in the University towns, and the most important one is in Uppsala, only 40 minutes by train from the capitol, Stockholm. Here, the students gather early in the morning in the parks for a Champagne Breakfast, followed by Herring Lunch with snaps of spicy vodka, also preferable outdoors, on this day the whole city is converted into a big party arena. At 3pm everyone gathers in front of the University Library where the principal of Uppsala University holds the official “Hats On” speech. At the principals command and a 'Hurray', everyone puts on their white student hats and then the students run down the main street in a Champagne Race to their Fraternity house, spread about in the city center. These houses are called “...Nations” –depending on what region in Sweden you come from, you belong to this houses, so you in that way will never feel so far away from home. At the Fraternity house lots of champagne is drank as the name “Champagne Race” implies.

Not only do the younger students wear their student hats this day, they are proudly joined by the older generation and together they sing the traditional hymns together with the official student choir.

The party continues all day and night and even the day after at some Fraternity houses.

A happening well worth to participate in, student or not -you are much welcome to Uppsala, April 30th.

Uppsala has a fascinating history where many historical events in Sweden have taken place. The Uppsala University is Scandinavia's oldest, founded 1477 and Old Uppsala – just about 5 km outside the new city center, was a heathen cult center in ancient times, known for its three large burial mounds from 500 AC. In the Iron Age on every nine year, a Pagan Midwinter Sacrifice was held to please the ASA Gods, where nine men were killed together with numerous animals and hung in a sacred grove, all supervised by the King.

Many prominent historical people are from Uppsala. To mention a few, Carl Von Linné, the world famous Botanist, and Emanuel Swedenborg, inventor and Christian spiritualist who wrote books about his conversations with angels and spirits. His belief influenced August Strindberg, Emerson, Baudelaire, Yeats and Carl Jung, not to mention the active society, The Swedenborgian Church of North America, with 1900 members worldwide. The Swedish Film director Ingmar Bergman was born and raised in Uppsala and perhaps you have seen his Oscar awarded film, “Fanny and Alexander”, about his childhood set in the early 1900 in Uppsala.

Uppsala is well worth a visit any time of the year, and not just for a day. There are plenty of interesting historical sites: The Cathedral, the University buildings, The Castle from the 16th century, and, last but not least, Old Uppsala with it´s dark pagan history. Take a walk there on a full moonlit night - if you dare.

But Hostelsclub.com recommends a good night´s sleep at our hostels or a budget hotel in the center of Uppsala -Book here. Enjoy your spring holiday in Uppsala!

Photos of Uppsala