Whilst not being particularly spoilt by sunlight in the winter, us Swedes tend to spend all our summer energy soaking up the summer sun. Midsummer Eve marks the highlight of this summer period and it´s time to celebrate the longest day of the year. During this summer solstice, when the Earth’s axis tilts the most toward the sun. The intensity of the celebration may seem odd to people that aren´t starved of sunlight.

To a foreigner it might seem like the Swedes have gone mad! Usually reserved and never the highlight of the party, on midsummer us Swedes will let down our guard, some with a little help of some schnapps. I´m sure we look a bit deranged when we let lose all of a sudden.

We wear wreaths with birch leafs and wild flowers, often clad in traditional dress, we sing and dance to”små grodorna” (The little frogs song)? and “Björnen sover” (The bear sleeps). In the little frog song we hop around like frogs while in “Björnen sover” a nominated person pretends to be a sleeping bear until the song is over, then the “bear” chaise the fleeing crowd. There isn´t one person in Sweden that doesn´t know the steps to these dances.

Midsummer Eve always falls on the third Friday in June so people can enjoy a long weekend as celebrations often continue long into Midsummer Day, when people are mainly recovering from the “festivities” of the previous night.

Arkiverat under: Chit chat den 24 June, 2007