Midsummer in Sweden is one of the most important holidays of the year. Midsummer's Eve (Midsommarafton) and Midsummer's Day (Midsommardagen) are celebrated on Friday and Saturday between 19 and 26 June, when days are the longest and the sun almost never goes down (not just in the north, but even in Södermanland, where we live:).
For many Swedes these holidays mean large family gatherings or time to begin their five-week annual holidays, as the summer season is relatively short.
The way Swedes celebrate their Midsummer's Eve is very unique and I'm going to introduce you to a few basic things, which will follow with my own short experience in pictures:
- People usually begin their day with picking up wildflowers which are used for making crowns they later wear on their heads, or simply to decorate their homes;
- Maypole (majstång or midsommarstång) is a key component of the day. Before it's raised, greens and flowers are collected to cover the whole pole. Once the maypole stands in an open spot, the whole celebration begins. People dance around the pole (including a famous frog dance), sing traditional songs, usually wear crowns made of wildflowers and some are dressed in traditional folk costumes.
- Food is another important part of the holidays and there are a few things which can't be missed on a table - it's soused and pickled herring (not everybody handles them as I've heard), first years potatoes, sour cream, various salads, meatballs (of course); drinks like beer and snaps (but first they sing a song) and as a dessert come first strawberries in various forms - usually with a whipped cream or in a cake.
This year I had an opportunity to take a sneak peak at the whole celebration and I'm bringing a few pictures taken at Skogstorp.
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