Editing May Day (section)

=== Sweden ===
In Sweden, there are bonfires and outdoor celebrations on May Eve or [[Walpurgis Night]] ("Valborgsmässoafton"). Most of the traditions associated elsewhere with May Day are held at [[Midsummer]] instead; such as [[Maypole]] dancing.

Up until the 19th century, on May Day itself, there were mock battles between Summer and Winter. Sir [[James George Frazer]] wrote in ''[[The Golden Bough]]'' (1911):<ref>{{cite book |last1=Frazer |first1=James George |title=The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion |date=1911 |page=254 |edition=Third |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/41572/pg41572-images.html |chapter=Chapter VIII. The Killing Of The Tree-Spirit}}</ref><blockquote>on May Day two troops of young men on horseback used to meet as if for mortal combat. One of them was led by a representative of Winter clad in furs, who threw snowballs and ice in order to prolong the cold weather. The other troop was commanded by a representative of Summer covered with fresh leaves and flowers. In the sham fight which followed the party of Summer came off victorious, and the ceremony ended with a feast</blockquote>