Tuesday morning: 08.30. The way to the Stadpark is paved with students carrying bags, blankets and bottles to set up their base for the year’s largest communal picknick: Valborg.
Lund’s Valborg is worth a travel. At least, according to Alex Lennartsson. The linguistics student has come all the way from Jönköping for this celebration, together with a friend. The two sit at the edge of the crowd with a crate of beer.
”Valborg in Lund is the best. Or so we heard from friends,” Alex Lennartsson says.
Because he is only a first-year student, he does not know how Valborg is celebrated in Jönköping itself, but he can compare it with Göteborg, his home town.
”There are more people here. And we don’t sit in the grass back home in Göteborg; it’s mainly about a parade, which is most fun to the people who are in it.”
While some people are hauling with big radios or have trouble staying in contact with their friends ”Oh no, we already lost half of the group”, Dutch environmental studies student Marten Verheugt, 22 is enjoying a champagne with strawberries.
”I knew that 25.000 people would come, but…still,” Marten comments on his first Valborg experiences.
Apart from champagne, Marten brought wodka and lots of water to make it through the day. ”The latter is to keep myself hydrated. I think today is gonna be great, even though the wind is still fresh. It will be a relaxed day.”
At the other side of the park, Nina Wensmark and Veronika Smisovksa do agree with him that it’s quite chilly, although they are happy that it’s not raining. The two are working for Project Sex.
”We hand out fair-trade condoms and biological lubricant to improve safe sex among students. We also have a stand where people can get more information,” Nina Wensmark explains.
Drinking champagne or beer is not an option for everyone in the park. Johanna Jönsson ,19, is too young to buy alcohol in Systembolaget. Together with her friend Emma Källstig ,18, she is waiting for more companions to arrive.
”It’s fun to hang out here and watch people getting drunk. And tonight we are going to a nation party.” Johanna Jönsson says.
In case of rain, she is will know what to do.
”I have taken a rain coat with me.”
Her friend didn’t, so she’ll have to find another solution.
”I guess that I will just hide under my blanket”, Emma Källstig says.
