June 22 – Midsummer in Sweden

Posted June 22, 2013

One of the most popular times of the year in Sweden is Midsummer. This is celebrated near Summer Solstice, with most of the celebrations occurring on the Saturday nearest to the Solstice.

You probably know that Summer Solstice is the longest day (and shortest night) of the year. (While Swedes are celebrating Midsommar, people in the Southern Hemisphere are celebrating the longest night and shortest day of the year, Winter Solstice!)

During Midsummer, Swedes decorate their houses with bright, flowery wreaths and garlands. They dance around a decorated midsummer pole to the accompaniment of accordions and violins and guitars, and they sing folk songs. They eat a smorgasbord of salty fish, potatoes, cured fish, meatballs, pickled fish, salads, and—did I mention fish? They play active games such as tug-of-war and have silly races such as sack races. At night, they continue the party spirit gathered around a bonfire.

I am not sure if people do the bonfire thing in northern Sweden, where people enjoy the “Midnight Sun.” At these northern latitudes, the sun never goes down at all! Instead, it dips down to the horizon before rising back up into the sky. Even “southern Sweden” is pretty far north, and 6:00 p.m. at Midsummer seems more like noon to the rest of us.

Here is a humorous video about Midsummer in Sweden.

Learn about Midsummer Party in nearby Denmark. 

Also on this date:

Schoolteachers' Day in El Salvador 

Anniversary of the lowering the voting age in the U.S.

Great American Backyard Campout 

Explorer George Vancouver's birthday

Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest pages on June holidays, historical anniversaries in June, and June birthdays.

And here are my Pinterest pages on July holidays, historical anniversaries in July, and July birthdays.