The Town Law of Magnus Eriksson says:
: "Now is the time to elect chief magistrates and councillors. Every year, all chief magistrates and councillors shall come to the Council meeting eight days before the day of St. Valborg, none excepted or not present, at the risk of paying a fine of three marks. On the day of St. Valborg, those elected shall be announced at the public Council meeting according to the old law."
On the day of St. Valborg, May 1, the books of the old year were closed and the new year started.