Why Swedish Midsummer Rivals Christmas

Living as far north as Swedes do, it is little wonder that so many celebrations focus on light. And Midsummer, the longest day of the year, is no exception. Ask a Swede what the most important holiday of the year is and Midsummer will come up as often as Christmas. Get older Swedes talking and their eyes will well up as they reminisce about community spirit, songs, barn dancing and the mystical atmosphere surrounding the Midsummer gatherings of their youth. Sure, there was a lot of drinking, fistfights and frolicking, but everyone shook hands in the end.

For younger generations, Midsummer is mainly about heading out to the summer cottage and celebrating with a group of friends or family. Midsummer Eve always falls on the third Friday in June so people can enjoy a long weekend or kick off their summer vacation. Celebrations often continue long into Midsummer Day, when people are mainly recovering from the “festivities” of the previous night.

Midsummer madness

If you’ve ever been to a midsummer party you will hardly recognized your normally reserved Swedish friends, who can suddenly let loose, and can begin singing and hopping around like frogs to a strange tune (Små Grodorna or The Little Frogs song). Everyone can seem to know the steps, and they will dive wildly into oily herring and knock back throat-searing schnapps.

Midsummer is associated with magic and fertility rites. The Midsummer maypole, a fertility symbol used to “impregnate” Mother Nature, was meant to bring a good autumn harvest. People still decorate the maypole with flowers and birch leaves, and sing and dance around it wearing garlands in their hair.

On Midsummer Eve, young girls continue to pick seven (sometimes nine) types of flower to place under their pillows when they go to sleep in the belief that they will dream of their future love.

People will be outside as much as the weather permits – only severe storms will deter open-air Midsummer celebrations and outdoor dining. A typical Midsummer meal consists of different kinds of herring served with sour cream, chives and fresh potatoes, with schnapps and drinking songs to wash the food down, and fresh strawberries.