Valborg Words
The core vocabulary of Valborg: bonfires, choirs, student caps and the first signs of spring.
On the evening of 30 April, Sweden says goodbye to winter with bonfires, choirs and spring songs. These words take you from the afternoon picnic to the bonfire and on to the first of May.
- 1
Valborg
Walpurgis Night (30 April)
Tip: Short for the long official name; no article. Celebrated on the evening of 30 April.
- 2
en vår
spring
Tip: The season; 'i vår' = this spring.
- 3
en kväll
an evening
Tip: Valborg is an evening celebration.
- 4
att fira
to celebrate
Tip: Used for holidays, birthdays and wins alike.
- 5
ett firande
a celebration
Tip: Noun made from the verb 'to celebrate'.
- 6
en tradition
a tradition
Tip: Stress on the last syllable.
- 7
en eld
a fire
Tip: Fire in general, as in 'make a fire'.
- 8
en brasa
a bonfire
Tip: A big wood fire, outdoors or in a fireplace.
- 9
en valborgsbrasa
a Valborg bonfire
Tip: Compound: Valborg + bonfire. In some regions it's called a 'May bonfire'.
- 10
en rök
smoke
Tip: Definite form: röken.
- 11
en kör
a choir
Tip: Pronounced like 'shur' with a long vowel.
- 12
en manskör
a male-voice choir
Tip: Literally 'men's choir'; a classic at Valborg.
- 13
en vårsång
a spring song
Tip: Compound: spring + song.
- 14
att sjunga
to sing
Tip: Past tense: sjöng.
- 15
ett vårtal
a speech welcoming spring
Tip: A short speech given at many Valborg bonfires.
- 16
en student
a student
Tip: Also used for someone who has just finished upper secondary school.
- 17
en studentmössa
a student cap
Tip: The white cap students wear on big days.
- 18
en mösspåtagning
the putting-on of the caps
Tip: In Uppsala, students put their caps on together on the afternoon of 30 April.
- 19
en picknick
a picnic
Tip: Spelled with -ck in Swedish.
- 20
en filt
a blanket
Tip: Bring one for the grass and one for your knees.
- 21
en grillkorv
a grilled sausage
Tip: Sold or grilled near many bonfires.
- 22
en ylletröja
a wool jumper
Tip: Wool = ull; it is often cold on 30 April.
- 23
en folkmassa
a crowd
Tip: Literally 'a mass of people'.
- 24
ett fyrverkeri
fireworks
Tip: Singular in Swedish: one fireworks display.
- 25
en vårsol
the spring sun
Tip: Spring + sun; it feels warm but the air is still cold.
- 26
en tussilago
coltsfoot
Tip: Small yellow flower, one of the very first signs of spring.
- 27
en vitsippa
a wood anemone
Tip: White forest flower that carpets the ground in spring.
- 28
en björk
a birch
Tip: Its first tiny leaves mean spring is really here.
- 29
första maj
the first of May
Tip: No article; the day after Valborg, a public holiday.
- 30
ett förstamajtåg
a May Day march
Tip: Compound: first-of-May + procession ('tåg' is also 'train').
- 31
en vårstädning
spring cleaning
Tip: Garden cuttings from spring cleaning often end up on the bonfire.