Many countries love the summer months so much that they have some sort of celebration to mark the beginning of this season. Sweden is no exception. Each year, on a specified Friday in the month of June, they begin the summer with dancing, fun and being outdoors.
When Is It?
Midsummer’s Eve celebrations start on the Friday that occurs in the timeframe of June 19 to June 26. Some celebrations do continue on through Saturday as well.
What happens during Midsummer’s Eve?
Celebrations, participants dance around a maypole while listening to traditional Swedish music. Some of these individuals wear folk costumes and wildflowers on their heads. They also eat a lot of food during this time. Some of the more popular dishes include pickled herring, the season’s first strawberries and potatoes doused with sour cream and chives. Many individuals also will consume a lot of alcohol during these activities and sing quite a few drinking songs.
How it started?
In the past, Midsummer was the time of year when it was thought that magic occurred the most frequently and many individuals performed rituals to try to get a glimpse into their futures. It wasn’t uncommon for girls to pick bouquets of many different flowers and place them under their pillows in hopes that they would dream of their future spouse. Midsummer’s herbs were supposed to be very strong and had healing properties. Throughout the years, all of these beliefs about Midsummer have contributed to what it is today. Even the German merchants have had a hand in Midsummer’s Eve customs as they have traditionally raised the maypole in June after having an unsuccessful month of trying to find greenery and flowers in May. For some Christians, they refer to the holiday as St. John’s Day. This is because Saint John The Baptist was born somewhere around the time of Midsummer’s Eve. They celebrate this holiday as a way to honor him and all that he did.
Midsummer’s Eve celebrations can be found in most parks and gardens in Sweden. This holiday is actually the second biggest holiday that occurs in Sweden each year. There are some other countries that have similar celebrations, including the United Kingdom, Serbia and Poland. Even the United States will have a few celebrations of their own. For instance, New York City be having a Midsummer’s Eve festival on June 20 in Manhattan. It will be taking place at Battery Park and festivities will include decorating a midsummer pole, having a picnic and dancing to fiddle music. Other U.S. cities that are expected to have similar celebrations include Rockford and Chicago, Illinois and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
