Valborg - Sweden's Mardi Gras

One of the biggest holiday of the Swedish year is approaching. Tomorrow is Valborg (Valpurgis for the English speakers). Valborg celebrates the arrival of springtime; the introduction of the month of May. Bonfires are lit, preferably with old furniture or random stuff that people don't need anymore; it is a time for renewal and rebirth. Kids light firecrackers and dare each other to stand close to the fire. However nice and festive that is, the Uppsala-way of celebrating has few, if any, opponents when it comes to Swedish parties. All day drinking (outside, celebrating spring) running around, rejoicing, spraying champagne, barbecuing, fooling around, peeing in the bushes, singing and dancing. It is madness for two whole days (for the hardcore, three), committing every possible pagan heathen sin in celebration. It does not get much better.


Sadly, I cannot say that I have experienced the American Mardi Gras, but from what I know it is the closest comparison I can make it with a U.S. festivity, aside from perhaps St. Patrick's Day. The carnival-like atmosphere, drunkenness, and celebration of sin, is what makes the Swedish Valborg and the American Mardi Gras the cousins of crazy parties, if you will. A time when otherwise suppressed people let go, let loose, let it happen. It is a beautiful thing. I will start it now; meet you in the parks, in the bushes, and other the champagne. Rejoice!

What's It All About?

Why write yet another blog about the United States? It's been done, we've heard it, we've read it. No, you haven't.

There are special reasons for writing the story of American influences and presence in Sweden, and Sweden's existence and impact on America, as well as the special relationship between the two countries.

In relative terms, Sweden had the third highest immigration rate to the United States from the middle of the 19th century up until World War II, only surpassed by Ireland and Norway. The gives Sweden a special place in the creation of American life and society, and it puts America close in the "mental map" of many Swedes as personal and biological ties are created between the two countries by immigration. I would argue that the US are closer to Swedes than are many European countries. American influences are also heavily present in Swedish society and everyday life, perhaps mostly in the form of popular culture such as TV-series, movies, music, and clothing.
On the other hand Sweden and the United States are in many characteristics very different nations; our history of political and societal ideas vary vastly in certain aspects. Today it is perhaps most visible in the differentiated views on religion, welfare and taxes, and our relationship with the rest of the world.

The US and what goes on "over there" interests us and attracts significant media attention, not only in the field of politics but also sports, culture, media, religion, and "everyday life". These days Swedish mainstream media are occupied with the oil disaster that might come to threaten wildlife and nature on the Southeast coast of the US.

All these subjects and more will be explored and analyzed on this site. So stay tuned.