Midsummer day simply refers to the period of summer solstice. This is our longest day with sunlight and as Scandinavians that is something to celebrate!
Swedes are fairly well in tune to the rhythms of nature. At Midsummer, many begin their five-week annual holidays and everything must get done before they leave. Midsummer Eve is celebrated in the countryside everywhere and on the day before, everyone leaves town, most things close around 2:00 PM and the streets are suddenly spookily deserted. If you want rockstar parking in Stockholm, this is the day to park your car unless you are going to Skansen where the city denizens celebrate.
The country’s highways, on the other hand, are packed. This is not the day to drive anywhere unless you have to.
We start the day by picking flowers and making wreaths to place on the maypole, which is a key component in the celebrations as well as head ornaments.
We raise the maypole in an open area and traditional ring-dances ensue, to the delight of the children and some of the adults. A typical Midsummer menu features different kinds of pickled herring, boiled new potatoes with fresh dill, sour cream and raw red onion. This is often followed by a grilled dish of some kind, such as spare rib or salmon, and for dessert the first strawberries of summer, with cream. The traditional drinks are cold beers and schnapps, preferably spiced. Every time the glasses are refilled, singing breaks out anew. Swedes like drinking songs and most of them don't make sense.
Unfortunately, Midsummer also brings country wide intoxication, traffic accidents and break-ins in houses. The first two are hard to control but be savvy about your house. Cut the grass before you leave so it seems as if someone is home. Leave toys (non-valuable) strewn in the yard. If possible leave a car parked in the drive way. Don't forget the alarm if you have one and don't forget to lock the shed. Most importantly we hope you enjoy our Midsummer celebration!
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