Dean's Blog

Being a Pagan moving to a new country is always a difficult thing to do. Usually when people say “What religion are you” I tend not to answer as if I say Pagan I usually have to spend the next three hours explaining the difference between Wicca and Pagan and also then correcting the most commonly known facts that are always incorrect.

I don’t have a witch’s hat, I don’t sit in a pentacle chopping up bits of dead cat and no I don’t own any of the Charmed series on DVD. Being Pagan is something I have been since a child and it’s my own personal path and belief and as I respect all of my friend’s religions including Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Sikh, Hindu, Jain, Wiccan, Rastafarian etc I would also want them to respect mine.

The last few weeks I have been reading a lot about the history of Sweden and it is quite refreshing to know that Pagan history played quite a major part of the countries history. Now if you question anyone about Swedish history the majority will have no knowledge of anything between The Vikings and Abba. But it is good to see that the country is indeed full of Pagan related history.

So imagine my surprise when I found out about Valborgsmässoafton or known by it’s more common name Walpurgis Night. Not only is this a celebrated Pagan festival but also a public holiday. It is basically a spring festival to celebrate the new season, bonfires are lit to keep away the dead that were believed to walk among the living this is followed by the return of light and the sun as celebrated during May Day.

One of the main traditions in Sweden is to light large bonfires, a custom which is most firmly established in Svealand, and which may have begun in Uppland during the 18th century: In Linköping the students and public gather at the court yard of Linköping Castle. Spring songs are sung by Linköping University Male Voice Choir and speeches made by representatives of the students and the University teachers. There are also newer student traditions in Gothenburg, like the carnival parade, The Cortège, which has been held since 1909 by the students at Chalmers.
I will be in Sweden on the 30th April and though I will not be attending any of these events just being in such an historic country makes me proud to be Pagan. I am sure that I will be attending next years and it will be a new experience for a British Pagan.