Restrictions definitely over

Last of April is special here. Partying all day and all night long. Lots of events during the day, the most important being putting the white student's cap on. Back in the day it could only be worn during the summer. Nowadays it's mostly a celebration of spring, such as it is this year. The picture is taken from the uni library, Carolina Rediviva, up on the ridge. The headmaster of the uni and other dignitaries stand on a balcony. At exactly 15:00 the headmaster raises his white cap in the air. So do some 50 000 students, current and old, and then put it on their heads. Then begins a run down the hill, called the champagne gallop. The goal is to squeeze into one of the many student nations (kind of associations) and there imbibe as much champagne, or cheaper substitutes, as possible.

Then come the ambulances to pick up those that didn't make it. Really. They do. 😁

Not my picture and alas the photographer missed the moment when 50 000 white caps are in the air. But it is from today.

Wow I would hate to be in the middle of that 🙂

Much safer at the computer.

Absolutely safer at the computer .. even without a possible COVID event ... Odd tradition IMHO ...

WhyNot

They need to more worried about being trampled to death than catching diseases Charlotte! That is quite the view. Could you see it from your place?

Andrew

No, I live where the arrow points.

It's actually quite fun - when you are young and a student. Everyone is happy. Even happier if it's really spring, and not cold and nothing green in sight like this year. But it's a hard day, if you do it right. Begins with pickled herring, beer and snaps - for breakfast. Then down to the river to watch a race with home built and fragile rafts through the falls. Many end up in the water. Try to get some food. Organized people have planned a picnic in one of the parks. Then it's time for the cap event at the uni library at 15. Then the champagne. If you are lucky you get hold of some more food before it's time to listen to a student choir greet the spring up at the caste in the evening. Then dance and party all the night at one of the student nations. More beer and wine at lib during the day, of course.

@Andrew. I haven't heard of anyone who has got trampled. Those that sometimes lie there when the rest has left do so because they are intoxicated. Kids shouldn't drink snaps for breakfast.

I did it all when I studied. But the students were fewer then and the city's population was smaller. They estimate about 100 000 was out in the center of the city during the day this year and of them half was at the university library at 15:00.

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I saw the arrow Charlotte but thought some of it might still be visible from your flat. I am not a big fan of large crowds like that. Oh to be young again, in body at least.

You should have been out there with your camera documenting this for our entertainment. On my phone, I have no idea how people have both thumbs flying on the tiny keyboard and do not make a million mistakes!

Andrew

That is quite a sight. Get out there with your OM-1 and subject tracking software to capture all the blood and glory of the "Champagne Gallop"

I plan to, every year. But then, nah. The cap raising would be hard to catch, since I would be in the crowd. The best shots are taken from the balcony, but there is no way I could get in there. This year's shot I think is taken from the ground in front of the library. The rafts would be easier and probably fun.

I also plan to watch and photograph the demonstrations today each year. Don't do that either. Don't think I've ever seen the May demonstration in this city. In Stockholm a couple of times when I grew up. I'm not politically interested but it can of course be spectacular. Not not so much nowadays, I think. Those times are gone.

There are higher houses in the way and it would be at some distance anyway.

Here's the same street as in the above picture. Shot in the other direction from about where the crowd ends. That hill never looks impressive in pictures for some reason I don't understand. It's really steep. I've biked up it only a couple of times in my life and triked only once, to prove to myself I could. I had to stop several times and got a scary feeling I would tip over.

And here's how one of the parks where it's popular to picnic looked early this morning. Basically the whole city looks more or less like this. But when people wake up it's all gone. They have an army of people out cleaning everything up in the wee hours.

Not my picture.

That is one heck of a mess Charlotte! It looks like a lot of abandoned stuff but some look like people sleeping it all off!
Andrew

Wouldn’t like to have to clean that up 🙂

Yeah. It's sad. Lot of bins are put out, but no. And all the abandoned stuff. We used to have a reggae festival each year, in a big park/countryside area along the river. It lasted several days and people camped there. Then many just left their stuff and went home. I have friends who used to go there early the morning after the last day and just pick up what camping gear they thought was useful, for them or someone else. Tents, sleeping bags, stoves... It was amazing what they brought home.

Those that don't eat the pickled herring get to clean! 😁

I imagine it's quite a lucrative job. If I was doing it I would put all the deposit-refund bottles and cans in my private sack! 😛

U wouldn't be doing that kind of work Charlotte u have a castle in Scotland the lady of the Loch 😀

Must get money for the heating bill!

Gawd, Charlotte. I did not like crowds before covid. I can't imagine being in that crowd of Swedes who are drunk on Aqvavit. Likely they are celebrating Walpurgis Night. I wonder how many people were sacrificed and are under that trash, and how many of the survivors are now pregnant.
Most people don't know about how Swedes celebrate the night of the witches sabbath, exactly six months before Halloween, when the new compact is signed by the witches with Satan, and by practicing pagan rituals and smearing their naked bodies with rotten herring. I have heard that the glare of so many naked pale people can be seen from space.
I know about these things because I was born on Walpurgis Eve and still am in service to Old Scratch, but due to my great seniority, my current duties are largely ceremonial....but you should still be careful. 😈 Do you think I am kidding? Rich

Rich, see the trees to the left in the first picture? That's where Odin's grove starts. It leads up to the cathedral. It's in those trees we hang up Scotsmen and other riff-raff later in the evening and poke them with sticks before we let the eagles feed on them. Great fun! 😄