As the long, dark Scandinavian winter gives way to the radiant summer, we Swedes come alive with the celebration of Midsummer, or 'Midsommar' in Swedish. This vibrant and joyous festival on Midsummer Eve (always a Friday) is a cornerstone of Swedish culture, filled with traditions that bring communities together in a colorful embrace of nature, food, dance, and song. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in a quintessential Swedish experience, or even are planning a visit to Sweden - Midsummer is the perfect occasion.
Midsummer marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, when the sun barely sets and the nights are bathed in a magical twilight. This celebration dates back to pre-Christian times, rooted in ancient fertility rites and nature worship. Today, it remains a heartfelt homage to light, growth, and the fleeting beauty of the Swedish summer. Since I'm in Sweden this year I'll be getting up very early on Friday morning and head to Ales Stenar, a 67 metre long stone ship monument from the Iron Age. Archeologists still debate whether this is a burial or religious site, and another popular theory is that the ship is a sun calendar. Regardless, it's a beautiful monument with incredible views over the Baltic coast.
I've been coming here since I was a child and it's a very special place for me, I can't think of a better way to start the Midsummer celebrations than watching the sun rise over the stones.
Later in the morning I'll be helping out with the raising of the center piece of the festivities - the "midsommarstång" or maypole. It's usually decorated with flowers and greenery, sometimes wreaths and ribbons. The maypole is hoisted in a communal space, where we dance around it. Traditional dances like the infamous "Små grodorna" (The Little Frogs) are both whimsical and lively, often accompanied by laughter and the sound of fiddles and accordions. And if you want to watch this 'exotic' dance, watch this video - trust me, it's an experience you won't want to miss....
No Midsummer celebration is complete without donning a flower crown. Making these crowns is a cherished tradition, involving friends and family in a creative flurry of weaving wildflowers and leaves into beautiful headpieces. According to folklore, if you're unmarried, you should picks seven different flowers and places them under their pillow (don't use an expensive pillowcase...), you'll dream of your future partner!
After all that has been sorted it's time for the feast - the gastronomic delight of the Midsummer Smörgåsbord, which tends to last long into the midsummer evening. Tables are laden with new potatoes, pickled herring, gravlax (cured salmon), fresh strawberries, and an array of delectable breads, cheeses, drinks and 'snapsvisor' (drinking songs).
In some regions, particularly in the archipelagos, bonfires are lit later in the evening as part of the Midsummer revelry, a tradition that dates back to ancient times when fires were believed to ward off evil spirits, to make it safe to let the kettle out to pasture.
Midsummer is more than just a celebration; it’s a powerful expression of community and connection not just with people but nature and tradition. It's a time when urban and rural boundaries blur, and everyone - from locals to visitors, is invited to join in.
Even if you're not in Sweden you can embrace the spirit of Midsummer - bring flowers into your home and all around you, invite your loved ones to a feast, spend time outside or gather around a firepit, and be transported to a place where the sun never truly sets, and every moment is filled with light, laughter, and love.
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