Valborg 2012

Here in Uppsala the party gets started quite early!

At 8:00 Liz and I biked down to our Swedish friends, Claire and Isabel's apartment for a Champagnefrukost. It is tradition here in Uppsala to start the day with a glass of Champagne and strawberries.

Claire and Isabel.

Breakfast

Liz about to make a tough decision... what to choose!

 At 9:30 we left to meet up with some other friends and watch the Forsränningen or raft race.

This tradition which was added to the day of festivities in the 70's, involves groups of students (3 or 4) building a raft made of foam and decorated to their liking and floating down the Fyris River, which I might add includes 2 small waterfalls. I think nearly everyone ends up in the river before crossing the finish line.

Walking

Coffee vendor!!! Oh Sweden, I love you.

Our spot on the river.

Picnicking

 

Julie, Kirsten, and Champagne

 Here come the rafts

Of course there were water fights

 These are just a few of the over 100 rafts that floated by.

 After watching the raft race it was off to Econmicom Park where thousands and thousands of students were sitting in the grass, soaking up the sun and enjoying the day.

Hey Ellen! Come on down!

Economicom.

 We found a nice, sunny spot in the grass. 

 Bottles were popped

 Some more eventful than others...

Oh Hejjj!

 What can I say, Valborg is all about the Champagne.

People watching in the park! 

Why is EVERYONE here so beautiful?

Fika Pause.

This picture right here sums up Swedish Spring.

 At 3:00 Spring arrives. 

The Vice Chanslor of the University steps out on the Balcony of Carolina Ridivia Library, waves to the crowd and the puts on her white graduation hat to welcome the Spring. Everyone in the street below then puts on their hat and cheers. I have to say the event want quite anti-climatic.

I heard 10,000 aditional people come to Uppsala for Valborg!

Countdown to Spring.

Happy Spring!

 After the welcoming of spring, it is tradition to run down the hill and go to one of the nations for a Champagnegallop. Bascially you buy a bottle of Champagne at the nation and spray it all over everyone. Everyone leaving the Champangegallop looked so miserable. They were wet, sticky, and muddy. Liz and I decided not to go in but we have fun watching everyone else.

The evening traditionally ends with barbeques in the park, bonfires, and parties all night long. 

 The experience was unreal. I have never seen anything like it. It was like the whole entire city was one big music festival and everyone was out to celebrate.