How the coronavirus is changing one of Sweden's most famous holidays
Can chicken manure, online events and strongly-worded recommendations stop people from celebrating one of Sweden's most famous holidays this week? That's what local authorities hope.
In normal times, valborgsmässoafton or Walpurgis Eve on April 30th is marked with large bonfires in public parks and other locations across the country.
It's a celebration of the end of the cooler months and anticipation for the coming summer, and it's particularly popular in student cities where it coincides with the end of spring term exams.
This year, large celebrations will not be possible due to a ban on public events with over 50 people and national guidelines to avoid gatherings with large numbers of people and to keep a distance from others in public spaces. The prime minister and other authorities have repeatedly stressed that this applies even to traditional festivities.
"The traditional Valborg celebration is cancelled," warned Interior Minister Mikael Damberg at a press conference this week. "During Easter, we saw large responsibility shown by the people of Sweden. I'm proud that large parts of the population are making big sacrifices in their everyday lives. This behaviour saves lives."
The minister said there was a risk of people gathering in places such as parks, but said that local municipalities and police would make efforts to stop this happening, and that individuals were expected to take responsibility.
"Now we have to take the same responsibility when it comes to the spread of infection. It's about making the effort. Holding out. This isn't just a tip. It's a rule that must be followed."
Damberg also issued specific instructions to parents of teenagers, saying: "I think people should keep an eye on their youngsters ahead of Valborg. Both that they don't head to parties, but also that they don't gather in large groups. We mustn't have large gatherings of young people."
A previous year's celebration on the Stockholm island of Kungsholmen. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT
In Stockholm
Dozens of planned bonfires and celebrations around the Swedish capital have been cancelled, but some organisers have come up with alternative ways to mark the date.
Scouting group Mälarscouterna will livestream its bonfire and celebrations in Norra Ängby – you can join in online here. The group will also have people at the site of the bonfire to remind anyone who turns up of the restrictions in place. You can also watch a livestreamed bonfire and concert from Ulriksdals Slottsteater, here.
In Uppsala
Around 150,000 people usually celebrate Valborg in the university town of Uppsala, with many travelling there from further afield for activities including a raft race along the river. The municipality and university have repeatedly said that this year the entire celebration is cancelled, holding an unusual joint press conference to stress the importance of following the recommendations.
The city has recommended that people living outside the city abstain from trips to Uppsala this year, and advised locals to celebrate Valborg by exploring the area's nature reserves, alone or in small groups, instead. The evening will also see extra police patrols in the city.
In Skåne
University city Lund is typically home to one of the biggest events in the entire country, with tens of thousands of people gathering to picnic and party in the city park Stadsparken.
Here's how the celebrations usually look in Lund; this picture is from 2018. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
But this year, the park will be closed on April 30th to stop spontaneous gatherings, and local officials have also taken the unusual step of spreading out hen manure across the park to further deter from picnics.
This is partly because the event in Lund has no official organiser and has simply become a tradition, so there is no one in the position to officially cancel it.
"Sitting in a park that stinks of chicken manure is not a pleasant experience," municipal chairperson Philip Sandberg noted in a Facebook post.
Although the southern region of Skåne has not yet been as badly hit by the coronavirus as Stockholm, regional police have warned that there is still community infection in all parts of the region and that following recommendations to keep distance and avoid gatherings is just as important in Skåne as elsewhere in Sweden.
Lund has taken the unusual step of closing off the main park. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
What about May Day?
May 1st is a public holiday in Sweden, but unlike in many other European countries, it's not a day of public celebrations – that all happens the evening before, on Valborg.
However, it is a day traditionally associated with workers' rights movements, and usually sees large demonstrations and marches across the country.
These have been cancelled due to the guidelines to avoid non-essential travel and large gatherings, and instead the leaders of the Social Democratic and Left parties will hold speeches via YouTube.
What should you be doing to help reduce the rate of infection?
In Sweden, the official advice requires everyone to:
-
Stay at home if you have any cold- or flu-like symptoms, even if they are mild and you would normally continue life as normal. Stay at home until you have been fully symptom-free for at least two days.
-
Practise good hygiene, by regularly and thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water, using hand sanitiser when that's not possible, and covering any coughs and sneezes with your elbow.
-
Keep distance from all other people when in public places. That includes shops, parks, museums, and on the street, for example. The World Health Organisation recommends keeping at least a 1.5-2 metre distance.
-
Avoid large gatherings, including parties, weddings, and other activities.
-
Work from home if you can. Employers have been asked to ensure this happens where possible.
-
Avoid all non-essential travel, both within and outside Sweden. That includes visits to family, planned holidays, and any other trips that can be avoided.
-
If you have to travel, avoid busy times such as rush hour if you can. This reduces the number of people on public transport and makes it easier for people to keep their distance.
-
If you are over 70 or belong to a high-risk group, you should stay at home and reduce all social contacts. Avoid going to the shops (get groceries delivered or try to find someone who can help you), but you can go outside if you keep distance from other people. Read more about the help available to those in risk groups here.
-
By following these precautions, we can all help to protect those who are most at risk and to reduce the rate of infection, which in turn reduces the burden on Sweden's healthcare sector.
-
Read more detail about the precautions we should all be taking in this paywall-free article. Advice in English is also available from Sweden's Public Health Agency and the World Health Organisation.
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In normal times, valborgsmässoafton or Walpurgis Eve on April 30th is marked with large bonfires in public parks and other locations across the country.
It's a celebration of the end of the cooler months and anticipation for the coming summer, and it's particularly popular in student cities where it coincides with the end of spring term exams.
This year, large celebrations will not be possible due to a ban on public events with over 50 people and national guidelines to avoid gatherings with large numbers of people and to keep a distance from others in public spaces. The prime minister and other authorities have repeatedly stressed that this applies even to traditional festivities.
"The traditional Valborg celebration is cancelled," warned Interior Minister Mikael Damberg at a press conference this week. "During Easter, we saw large responsibility shown by the people of Sweden. I'm proud that large parts of the population are making big sacrifices in their everyday lives. This behaviour saves lives."
The minister said there was a risk of people gathering in places such as parks, but said that local municipalities and police would make efforts to stop this happening, and that individuals were expected to take responsibility.
"Now we have to take the same responsibility when it comes to the spread of infection. It's about making the effort. Holding out. This isn't just a tip. It's a rule that must be followed."
Damberg also issued specific instructions to parents of teenagers, saying: "I think people should keep an eye on their youngsters ahead of Valborg. Both that they don't head to parties, but also that they don't gather in large groups. We mustn't have large gatherings of young people."
A previous year's celebration on the Stockholm island of Kungsholmen. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT
In Stockholm
Dozens of planned bonfires and celebrations around the Swedish capital have been cancelled, but some organisers have come up with alternative ways to mark the date.
Scouting group Mälarscouterna will livestream its bonfire and celebrations in Norra Ängby – you can join in online here. The group will also have people at the site of the bonfire to remind anyone who turns up of the restrictions in place. You can also watch a livestreamed bonfire and concert from Ulriksdals Slottsteater, here.
In Uppsala
Around 150,000 people usually celebrate Valborg in the university town of Uppsala, with many travelling there from further afield for activities including a raft race along the river. The municipality and university have repeatedly said that this year the entire celebration is cancelled, holding an unusual joint press conference to stress the importance of following the recommendations.
The city has recommended that people living outside the city abstain from trips to Uppsala this year, and advised locals to celebrate Valborg by exploring the area's nature reserves, alone or in small groups, instead. The evening will also see extra police patrols in the city.
In Skåne
University city Lund is typically home to one of the biggest events in the entire country, with tens of thousands of people gathering to picnic and party in the city park Stadsparken.
Here's how the celebrations usually look in Lund; this picture is from 2018. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
But this year, the park will be closed on April 30th to stop spontaneous gatherings, and local officials have also taken the unusual step of spreading out hen manure across the park to further deter from picnics.
This is partly because the event in Lund has no official organiser and has simply become a tradition, so there is no one in the position to officially cancel it.
"Sitting in a park that stinks of chicken manure is not a pleasant experience," municipal chairperson Philip Sandberg noted in a Facebook post.
Although the southern region of Skåne has not yet been as badly hit by the coronavirus as Stockholm, regional police have warned that there is still community infection in all parts of the region and that following recommendations to keep distance and avoid gatherings is just as important in Skåne as elsewhere in Sweden.
Lund has taken the unusual step of closing off the main park. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
What about May Day?
May 1st is a public holiday in Sweden, but unlike in many other European countries, it's not a day of public celebrations – that all happens the evening before, on Valborg.
However, it is a day traditionally associated with workers' rights movements, and usually sees large demonstrations and marches across the country.
These have been cancelled due to the guidelines to avoid non-essential travel and large gatherings, and instead the leaders of the Social Democratic and Left parties will hold speeches via YouTube.
In Sweden, the official advice requires everyone to:
-
Stay at home if you have any cold- or flu-like symptoms, even if they are mild and you would normally continue life as normal. Stay at home until you have been fully symptom-free for at least two days.
-
Practise good hygiene, by regularly and thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water, using hand sanitiser when that's not possible, and covering any coughs and sneezes with your elbow.
-
Keep distance from all other people when in public places. That includes shops, parks, museums, and on the street, for example. The World Health Organisation recommends keeping at least a 1.5-2 metre distance.
-
Avoid large gatherings, including parties, weddings, and other activities.
-
Work from home if you can. Employers have been asked to ensure this happens where possible.
-
Avoid all non-essential travel, both within and outside Sweden. That includes visits to family, planned holidays, and any other trips that can be avoided.
-
If you have to travel, avoid busy times such as rush hour if you can. This reduces the number of people on public transport and makes it easier for people to keep their distance.
-
If you are over 70 or belong to a high-risk group, you should stay at home and reduce all social contacts. Avoid going to the shops (get groceries delivered or try to find someone who can help you), but you can go outside if you keep distance from other people. Read more about the help available to those in risk groups here.
-
By following these precautions, we can all help to protect those who are most at risk and to reduce the rate of infection, which in turn reduces the burden on Sweden's healthcare sector.
- Read more detail about the precautions we should all be taking in this paywall-free article. Advice in English is also available from Sweden's Public Health Agency and the World Health Organisation.
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