Swedish Midsummer

After me and Nils have tried to explain this more than one time to the rest of the Kindo troopers, I will here briefly tell you about how we in Sweden celebrate the summer solstice.

In Sweden, Midsummer’s Eve, is celebrated on the Friday between June 19-25, this year June 20, a bank holiday. Most Swedes would argue that this is one of the most important holidays of the year and we celebrate it in a unique way. People find their way out to the country side or the archipelago where they traditionally raise a huge maypole covered in green leaves and flowers. Summer dressed Swedes then perform ring-dances around the pole with singing and folk music in the background. Typical is the frog dance

Maybe even more important is the food: The year’s first potatoes, herring, maybe raw spiced salmon and strawberry cake is on the menu on many tables. Drinking songs together with this is popular. Maybe too popular.

Starting as a Pre-Christian ceremony to celebrate the longest day of the year, magic was believed to be extra strong. Still, many girls pick a bouquet of seven different flowers which they place under their pillow. The tradition say that they now will dream of their future husband to add to their Kindo tree

This is it for me, now I’m off for the west-coast!

Posted by Morbror Martin in Culture, Family, General | Trackback |