Midsummer is a cornerstone of Swedish culture, eagerly anticipated and meticulously planned. Traditionally, Swedes celebrate with friends and family at summer cottages, enjoying a day filled with food, dance, and rituals.
The festivities begin with decorating and dancing around a maypole, adorned with birch leaves and wildflowers. Participants hold hands and sing traditional songs, embracing a custom that dates back to the Middle Ages and has roots in Norse pagan times.
The highlight is the Midsummer lunch, featuring a smorgasbord of pickled herring, dill-seasoned potatoes, smoked salmon, meatballs, and strawberry and whipped cream cake. Aquavit shots, accompanied by snaps songs, are an essential part of the meal.
Midsummer night is steeped in folklore, with traditions like placing wildflowers under pillows to dream of future spouses and wearing flower wreaths symbolizing rebirth and fertility. Walking barefoot in dewy grass is believed to ensure good health.
Celebrations peak on Midsummer Eve, falling between June 19 and 25. This year, it falls on June 21. One of the most popular venues is Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum in Stockholm, which showcases Swedish regions with traditional houses and farmsteads.
At Skansen, festivities start mid-morning with wreath-making and a Midsummer market. The maypole is raised at 11 a.m., followed by dancing and games to folk music. The highlight is the evening dance, reminiscent of public dances from the 1950s and ’60s.
“Midsummer at Skansen is an unmissable event,” says Anette Björlin, program officer at Skansen. “Families arrive early for child-friendly activities, and people come throughout the day for the dances. Last year, we had around 28,000 visitors on Midsummer Eve alone.”
Midsummer Around the World
Swedes living abroad also celebrate Midsummer, often gathering in parks for impromptu festivities. In cities like London and New York, with sizable Swedish populations, Midsummer parties have become popular.
In London, a “flash mob picnic” in Hyde Park attracts hundreds of revelers. The expat community LondonSwedes hosts a gourmet dinner on Midsummer’s Eve and a lunch on Midsummer’s Day, complete with flower garlands, live music, and traditional snaps songs.
“Swedes have a reputation for being reserved, but at Midsummer, we let our hair down,” says Charlotte Ågren, founder of LondonSwedes. “Celebrating Midsummer is not just about keeping a beloved tradition alive but also showcasing Swedish culture to our international friends.”
Midsummer continues to be a joyous celebration, bridging cultural heritage with contemporary festivities, and inviting people of all backgrounds to join in the merriment.
