Traditional Valborg celebrations in Uppsala cancelled

The celebration of Valborg was cancelled last year because of the pandemic. The actors involved in Valborg activities have now reluctantly concluded again that it is impossible to celebrate safely. The COVID-19 situation can be expected to remain serious even at the end of April. Consequently, a joint decision has been taken that activities associated with the traditional celebration of Valborg in Uppsala will be cancelled this year as well.

On the days around 30 April, around 150,000 people usually gather in central Uppsala to experience a traditional Valborg celebration. Many of them are visitors from elsewhere or students. The event has no overall organiser – the programme on 30 April consists of many different activities arranged by various organisers in cooperation.

The actors collaborating on Valborg in Uppsala are Uppsala University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala Municipality, Uppsala University Hospital, Region Uppsala, the Police and Destination Uppsala. They have now jointly decided to take responsible action to help prevent the transmission of infection by limiting the activities that lead to large gatherings this coming 30 April as well.

“Valborg and the donning of the caps at Carolina Rediviva is a tradition that is strongly associated with Uppsala and a day we all look forward to. We had hoped to be able to celebrate as usual this year, but regrettably this is impossible given the current infection situation. This will be another year when we have to call upon our students and staff to find alternative ways to greet the spring,” says Anders Hagfeldt, Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University.

The following activities will not take place on 30 April this year:

• The running of the falls
• Activities in Ekonomikum Park
• Herring lunch at UKK
• The donning of the caps below the University Library

Anna Malmberg