In Sweden, the Mid-Summer Festival (Midsommar) is the most important celebration after Christmas.
The secrets to the success of the endless Mid-Summer lunch are the flower crowns in the hair, the dances around a decorated pole, the singing at the top of one’s lungs while drinking snaps (typical Swedish aromatic schnapps) and devouring a huge amount of marinated herring (sill) served with delicious new potatoes, chives, and sour cream.
The Mid-Summer Festival initially took place on June 24th. Today, the Mid-Summer evening is celebrated on the Friday between June 20 and 25.
It takes place at Skansen, in parks, gardens, summer houses. Anywhere, as long as it is outdoors and someone invites you.
The Outdoor Celebrations
The cities, whether small or large, literally empty their inhabitants, people head to campgrounds and chalets, the typical accommodations for the Mid-Summer holiday.
Many plan the trip well in advance and leave very early in the morning only to discover that almost everyone had the same brilliant idea.
The Flowers and the Maypole
Gathering flowers is one of the fundamental activities that are part of the Mid-Summer celebrations, as wildflowers are used to make wreaths to wear and also to decorate the maypole.
The pole holds the place of honor in the center of the festivities: it is raised to the sound of music and to the rhythm of traditional folk dances. Once the typical dances and games are over, the other celebrations begin.
The Mid-Summer Menu
The menu of Mid-Summer is a classic, it doesn’t change much from year to year: fresh new potatoes boiled in dill to accompany a wide variety of herring and salmon served with sour cream, chopped chives, and other condiments are just some of the delights brought to the table for this occasion.
Washing it all down is the snaps, the typical Swedish aromatic schnapps and, of course, rivers of beer.
Mystery, Magic, and Tradition
The Mid-Summer festival always falls on a Friday and is a night full of mystery, magic, and tradition. Girls must gather seven different species of flowers and place them under their pillow during the night.
According to legend, they will see their future spouse in a dream. For those who prefer to stay awake, there is no better evening to fully experience the midnight sun.
The magic of this very special moment grows stronger as the hours pass and the longest day of the year continues endlessly and seems never to fade…
