Walpurgis night

Today is the day/night when Sweden traditionally celebrates that Spring is officially here - though it really has been for quite some time, even if the weather doesn't always agree - Walpurgis night = Valborgsmässoafton.

St Walburga was a nun who lived in Germany in the 8th century, and it is from her the name Valborg derives. The ancient custom of lighting bonfires at Walpurgis night was originally done to scare off evil beings that was said to worship the devil on this very night.

Now it's more a fun way to meet and celebrate the coming of Spring, and most of all I should way, a way to get rid of winter debris. In university towns like Uppsala and Lund, the way of celebrating Walpurgis night are pretty traditional and includes choral singing, speeches and wearing those typical Swedish white-topped high school-graduation caps.

There's also one really sad "tradition" surrounding Walpurgis in Sweden. And that's the fact that so many, far too many teenagers has quite a misguided way of celebrating Walpurgis. With an excess of alcohol. Apparently this night is by far the worst night in Sweden when it comes to alcohol poisioning and drunk and disorder incidents. So completely unnecessary. And the obvious question is of course, where are their parents?? Where are the grown ups who can set an example??

Unfortunately it seems to be too easy to have a child - and then what, whose responsability is it to bring that child up with good values, empathy and a sense of self-respect and respect for others? Me, the parent, why so?