http://www.chaskaherald.com/news/scandinavia/walpurgis-night-bonfires-and-fellowship-usher-springs-return-3991 Comments for "Walpurgis Night: Bonfires and fellowship usher in spring's return" en http://www.chaskaherald.com/news/scandinavia/walpurgis-night-bonfires-and-fellowship-usher-springs-return-3991 <p><strong>By Carolyn Spargo</strong> </p> <p class="DTEXT"> April is the transition month from winter to spring, or so we hope. In Sweden, the celebration, Valborgsmässafton (Walpurgis Eve) is celebrated on the last day of April. In pagan days, the ritual of setting bonfires may have been to scare off evil spirits in the evening, but for thousands of years it has been the time for burning the old brush for the new spring growth. </p> <br class="clear" /><p><a href="http://www.chaskaherald.com/news/scandinavia/walpurgis-night-bonfires-and-fellowship-usher-springs-return-3991">read more</a></p> http://www.chaskaherald.com/news/scandinavia/walpurgis-night-bonfires-and-fellowship-usher-springs-return-3991#comments Scandinavia Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:47:01 -0500 Mark Olson 3991 at http://www.chaskaherald.com