This weekend is a big celebration here in central and northern Europe – it’s a traditional spring festival, celebrating the end of the long winter and the beginning of spring. It’s named after Saint Walburga and the day is known in Swedish as Valborg. Walburga was canonized on May 1, 870 so the celebration is strongly tied to May Day.
Valborg is one of the biggest festivals held in the streets of Finland's towns and cities. The celebration, which begins on the evening of April 30th and continues to May 1st, typically centres on drinking mjöd (mead), sparkling wine and eating donuts. In our area, there are masquerades to celebrate Valborg also. There will be some who have bonfires in the evening on April 30th.
An important part of a May 1st gathering is the ceremonial donning of the student cap (graduation cap), which stems from the time when students wore their caps daily and switched from black winter cap to white summer cap.
A May 1st picnic with people wearing their student caps. Photo from Wikipedia – I don’t know these people
.
Our school had a masquerade party on Friday and here’s how the Holm kids showed up:
Mattias as a Sumo Wrestler.
Joel as a convict.
Sofia as a Punk Rocker. (No way was she going as a princess)
and, a close-up of the face details . . .
Tomorrow is actually May 1st, and we have a lot going on . . . to be updated late!
Barb
6 friends had something to say . . .:
Oh my! You must be so proud of your motley crew! Enjoy your celebrations! Miss you.
Andrea and Family
Love the punk get-up.... won't be letting Meg see it, however! :)
Wow! Nice costumes! Did you make them?
very clever costumes! how did you do the safety pin in sophia's lip?
Hello Barb,
I enjoyed catching up on your blog after missing if for many weeks. I loved seeing your photos and reading about your Easter, zoo trip and the celebrations of spring!!! lots of dressing up over there. Sofia's a beautiful child, love her hair and dress and her punk rock outfit. Not sure how you did the safety pin, wish I had know when I was a punk rock teenager. True story. Anyway back to some of my old pleasures...like reading your blog. God Bless.
Sheri
Just posted, not sure if it worked. I wanted to say how much I have enjoyed catching up on your life with your blog. Sofia is beautiful, in her Easter dress, awesome hair and of course as a punk rocker. I would have loved to know how you did the pin in her lip/cheek when I was a punk rock teen. True Story. Anyway nice to be back visiting your blog. God Bless and Take care.
Sheri
Post a Comment