Alesund, Norway - Slinningsbålet BONFIRE

Slinningsbålet, a Viking tradition, is the most famous and definitely the tallest bonfires in the world at 133+feet, and is to celebrate midsummer (summer solstice). It is built and lit up every year on the night of the longest day of the year AND WE WERE THERE this year to watch it burn and for 20+ hours of sunlight.

The Summer Solstice occurs because of a 23.5 degree tilt in the Earth’s rotational axis (some think this happened when a planet hit Earth billions of years ago and this became our moon). Because of this tilt, we experience the change in seasons, equinoxes and solstices, a time to celebrate (some say spiritual).

It takes 2+ months for a team of very young men (12-25 year olds) to stack wooden pellets by hand until their tower reaches the sky (sounds like the Tower of Babel to me). According to the fire boss for the past 12 years, Viktor (22), "on the Solstice, the tower is set on fire and along with fireworks to join it and to light up the sky, we continue this 70+ year tradition and thats just what it is. " (Note: See two videos here as well as and --- see footprint 1 of 3 from today in Alesund from the movie---- for what the tower looks like almost burnt down).Read more