2002-04-30 Tisdag: Sista April [Last of April]

So yesterday was Valborgsmässoafton (literally ``Walpurgis's Mass Eve'' but commonly ``Walpurgis Night''). With such a long name, it's no wonder that this holiday is usually just called Sista April (last [of] April). It's not actually an official national holiday, but it's certainly a de facto holiday that lasts all day long.

Somehow I managed to get myself out of bed at half past seven in the morning. At eight I cycled down to Krischansta Nation for the Valborgs breakfast. Almost every nation had a sillfrukost this morning, and ours was no exception. Nina showed up about the same time I did, with two friends from Konstanz also on exchange, respectively in Stockholm and somewhere in Italy. Together, and with a small crew of Nation members, mostly those who actually live in the Nation, we sat down to a traditional and now-familiar Swedish breakfast: Meatballs; prinskorv; bread with butter, cheese, cucumbers, and of course topped with sill (uncooked herring marinated in various sauces, like mustard sauce — it's actually quite good); and of course, cereal with yogurt or fil, and the requisite coffee.

One of Nina's friends (the one studying in Stockholm) was just thrilled to be in Sweden — everything, the traditions, the songs, the Nations, it was just great. The other one seemed to be sucking on a lemon about the whole thing, and seemed particularly worried that he'd have to sing. It was rather comical. Nina and I got our faces painted with the Krischansta colors (same as the Romanian flag — where were my Romanians??) and he just groaned.

Just before ten it was time to join the procession of the Nations. With our faces painted with the Krischansta colors, and carrying the Krischansta banner we walked to AF where the Nations assembled; then at ten, the procession began, lead by the marching band (?) through the sunny streets of Lund. I met Anna in the procession, following just behind us with the Kalmar Nation, and it was really great marching out through the streets of Lund, by all the amused spectators.

Eventually we reached the athletic fields on the road out towards Lomma. There all the Nations congregated and there was much festivity, and, of course, the tävlingen which included a tug-of-war, relay race, and other bizarre happenings such as the opportunity to cast cream pies at the Nation foremen (or each other), and then there was a guy from Radio AF with a radio transmitter in his backpack who first interviewed some guy covered in whipped cream (from aformentioned pie-throwing) and then covered a live on-the-air condom-blowing-up contest. The girl who lost that actually seemed quite disappointed.

Our nation crew reduced to only a handful of people we walked to Stadsparken, stopping on the way to panta our empty cans and bottles and buy ice cream and chocolate with the money. I was surprised to discover Statsparken packed with thousands of people — ah, that's where everyone was. Everyone was out in statsparken having a picnic. Apparently last year there were 20,000 people in Statsparken on Sista April. I explored the crowds for a little while — talked to Brit and Jessica briefly, ran into the bright-eyed Austrian girl, saw a couple other people.

But I was feeling a bit alone, so I wandered off from the picnicers into town and got a Chicken Whopper meal at Burger King to cure my ills. By this point I was feeling downright depressed and it was nice to eat a lunch by myself. I didn't really feel like going back to Statsparken, so instead I cycled back to Delphi. For no apparent reason I was really beginning to feel quite sad. Really it was probably just a combination of being tired, hungry, dehydrated, and sunburned. I rode back to Delphi wondering where my friends were, in both the practical and theoretical senses. Why wasn't anyone answering my SMS messages?

Back at Delphi I took a multi-hour nap.

I woke up to discover that everyone (well, of students) was now in the Delphi courtyard tending a barbeque. Really, I've never seen so many simultaneous barbeques. I rode around the Delphi inspecting the barbeques and feeling kind of stupid for not having arranged a barbeque to go to. I went to find Livia to see if she wanted to go out somewhere in the evening, but of course she wasn't home.

Biked down to Statsparken for the bonfire. On the stage there various groups performed, and an author gave an address. It was really like a sermon, welcoming the springtime. He explained that we need every season in the yearly cycle in order to live, be healthy, and enjoy life. He spoke of making "spring promises," and, perhaps I'm going too far on cultural attribution, but I think this is indicative of the swedish "secular religion" and the year beginning with the Spring etc.

Biked around the city looking for something to do. Ended up at Krischansta listening to the liveband outside. The liveband was really great actually, and Nina was there as expected. This was great fun. But the liveband finished at about one and Nina went inside; the music after the liveband left was lousy and with Nina gone it was no longer interesting, so I biked home and went to sleep at about 00:45.

Burger king

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