Soon it was time to celebrate Midsummer again. Midsummer is a big and important holiday in Sweden. But why do we do those strange things we do ... erecting poles and jumping around like frogs? And how do you plan to celebrate Midsummer this year?
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ShareWhy do we do what we do at Midsummer?
The Midsummer celebration in Sweden is unique and is not even celebrated in the same way in Denmark and Norway (where bonfires are lit) or in Finland (where bonfires and saunas are lit).
But why do we do these strange things that we do? According to an article in Metro last year, most of the traditions have a rather unknown origin, but it is believed that ...
- The midsummer pole came to Sweden from Germany in the Middle Ages. Originally, it was just a straight pole, and it was in the 19th century that it took its current form.
- Dancing around the pole emerged in the 19th century.
- Little frogs is originally an English nidvisa about the French during the Napoleonic War. The "frogs" are the French soldiers ... who then in some strange way ended up around the Swedish midsummer pole.
- Midsommarkransen is a relatively modern tradition, which is mostly about looking nice and attractive.
- The flowers under the pillow is an old tradition from peasant society. It was a way to tell the future - in the dream the future man would appear.
- Distilled wine as a feature of Midsummer is because 'drugs and rituals go together'. In the past, drinking was even more unrestrained, and at the end of the 19th century, schnapps was introduced as part of the meal, in an effort to curb drinking. However, the aristocracy was already drinking schnapps in the 17th century.
How will you celebrate Midsummer?
We are visited by some friends and will celebrate in peace and quiet at home in the houseboat. There will of course be herring and nubbe and good food, but there will be no midsummer pole and no dancing. Ideally, of course, we want to enjoy the sun and summer on deck, but the weather forecast doesn't look so good ... What are your plans for the weekend?
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Aila says:
We go to Småland to celebrate a traditional midsummer with family and friends. With herring for lunch and then dancing. And in the evening we have a barbecue and five games where everyone is involved.
Wishing you a nice midsummer and hope you get ☀️
23 June 2016 - 8:16
Matts Torebring says:
Again, nice to have a factual post, thanks. Maybe only Andalusia in Spain celebrates the same date, but then they celebrate St John. I do not know if Spain also celebrates? We ourselves celebrate in the south of France. Hope we can find strawberries and chives. Klädesholmens matjesill is already in the fridge. Happy Midsummer to you.
23 June 2016 - 8:41
Fantasy dining says:
We are going to Dalsland to celebrate Midsummer. There will probably be midsummer pole, hölass and traditional midsummer food!
23 June 2016 - 9:04
Goatfish says:
That's an interesting point about Midsummer and traditions.
I have fond memories of Öland, Torsö, Dalsland and even Denmark - although Denmark is not the same.
This year I am celebrating at home and doing the best I can, and on Sunday I am "working" at church.
The weather forecast for Lidköping seems to include EVERYTHING 😉.
Happy Midsummer! 😀
23 June 2016 - 9:19
Alexandra says:
We are celebrating by getting on a plane to Australia tomorrow morning, yay! I actually have some travel fever. ?
The fact that the little frogs are actually about the French was actually quite funny haha.
Hope you have a nice midsummer!
23 June 2016 - 9:32
Ama de casa says:
Here in Spain, fires are also important. Always the night before San Juan, which always falls on 24/6. This year it will be a bit of a double Midsummer's Eve for us. One tonight, when there are bonfires down on the beaches, and a traditional one tomorrow. With herring and accessories in the company of happy friends - but without rod and frogs 🙂.
23 June 2016 - 9:35
Snows says:
We will watch the traditional and very nice "Gåsaloppet" and then there is a celebration in the city park. Then there will be some good food and drink 😀.
Happy Midsummer!
23 June 2016 - 9:53
Roland Lindskog says:
Thank you very much for your motorhome trip in Europe now we are driving your trip in Croatia midsummer in sirena camping novigrad. Regards Rolle & brittan
23 June 2016 - 9:55
admin says:
Aila, that sounds like a nice midsummer celebration! Hope you have sunshine and a nice weekend!
Matts, I'm glad you appreciate our factual posts, I myself think it's so much fun to read about this and that 😉 Maybe St John is celebrated in several places? Even in Denmark, this holiday is called St Hans... Wishing you a nice midsummer and good luck with the hunt for strawberries and chives!
Fantasy Dining, it sounds like a traditional and nice midsummer celebration! Wishing you a nice weekend!
Geddfish, traditions are interesting! I was talking about it with my colleague, who is originally from Denmark yesterday, and realised that she found the Swedish celebrations very exotic the first time she came here 😉 Happy Midsummer!
Alexandra, oh so exciting! Do not forget to blog! 🙂 Wishing nice midsummer and a really good trip !!!
Ama de casa, you can't have too much celebration, can you? Wishing nice double celebration! 🙂
Znogge, "The Goose Race"...? Wishing you a nice midsummer weekend with all the celebrations!
Roland Lindskog, thank you very much for your comment! Wishing you a really nice trip to and stay in Croatia!
23 June 2016 - 10:32
Marie says:
Isn't it funny how different traditions come about, a historical concoction of sorts. We have invited some kiwi families and have planned games etc, but the weather doesn't look good at all unfortunately, so it will be very crowded in our living room.
23 June 2016 - 11:23
Mr Steve says:
We celebrate Midsummer with family and friends. Midsummer's Eve in the neighbouring village at Sara's house. There will be a traditional midsummer table and later a long and pleasant evening with, among other things, a barbecue.
On Midsummer's Day there is a Getingstorp picnic with herring and potato skewers.
Here the weather forecast looks really good.
Happy Midsummer!
23 June 2016 - 12:02
Emma, sun like sun? says:
Like every year since his son was born, a wreath will be tied and placed on his head and the Midsummer photo will be taken for the family. He still agrees even though he is now 11 years old! The best photo is probably the one when he was barely six months old and sat in the grass under the apple tree with the little wreath.
Otherwise, I will probably bake a strawberry cake, will soon go shopping because tomorrow (San Juan 24 June every year, just as Ama wrote) everything is closed. Then I wonder if we should not take and grill a little ... No direct plans so but it usually turns out well anyway!
Have a great Midsummer!
23 June 2016 - 12:08
Erik Johan Andersson says:
I'm going to go to Spain with the campervan!
23 June 2016 - 14:25
Aila says:
Tried downloading a mobile phone blogging app.
It was very easy.
Thanks for the tip... ?
Have a wonderful midsummer...
Keamar from us ?
23 June 2016 - 14:39
Ditte says:
Here we start the "celebration" already in the evening, 23/6, Hogueras de San Juan, (John the Baptist's fire) with many people gathering down on the beaches with food, fires, games and fun. And the real proposal starts at midnight. Those who are really daring jump over the fires and preferably go swimming to be "purified". It is usually very nice. In Alicante city, this celebration is particularly big.
Tomorrow is the Swedish Midsummer's Eve, but it has a different meaning. So it is nice that there will be a double celebration.
But I won't do the dance.
Happy Midsummer! As for the weather, we don't have a cloud in the sky...
23 June 2016 - 14:41
Cattis says:
Hehe, there are some strange traditions associated with Midsummer here in Sweden...quite funny though that we hardly know their origin!:) For my part, there will not be much of a traditional celebration this year, but will enjoy the holidays and eat and drink something good!:)
23 June 2016 - 16:07
Veiken says:
We will celebrate with good friends, but no games, just a wonderful community in the bright midsummer night!
23 June 2016 - 17:41
Helena says:
We have no direct plans, like most years. We will possibly go out and paddle on Sunday if the weather permits 🙂.
23 June 2016 - 20:08
BP says:
Thanks for the information. Good research again there;-)
We will also not jump around the pole but thought to go to Vaxholm and "check" the situation, if the weather is good. The thing is that we are not very interested in fiddlers and hambo;-)
Happy Midsummer to you!
23 June 2016 - 20:22
Ninny says:
Nice to read about the midsummer celebrations! When I was little, my little sister and I always picked flowers, which we put under the pillow in the evening. Lovely memory ...
This year we will celebrate midsummer out in the country, with the eldest son and our little grandchildren. Our other children are coming too, fun! I hope the weather will be good, because I think it will be play and fun out in the green. Socialise, play outdoor games, eat well and cosy up with the little ones...
Then we go home and pack, because on Sunday we go on a holiday trip, first destination is Prague!
Have a nice midsummer!
23 June 2016 - 20:45
admin says:
Marie, it seems to be the same bad weather here in Sweden unfortunately...
Steve, that sounds wonderful! Wishing you a nice midsummer weekend!
Emma sun as sun, wonderful that the son still stands up for the midsummer photo! Wishing you a nice midsummer!
Erik Johan Andersson, wonderful! Wish you a nice trip!!!
Aila, oh but how good! 🙂
Ditte, interesting to hear about midsummer celebrations in your latitudes! Wishing you a nice midsummer weekend!
Kattis, time off, good food and drink and socialising with family or friends is the best thing about most holidays! 🙂
Veiken, that sounds lovely! Have a nice weekend!
Helena, paddling sounds nice! Hope you get good weather!
BP, I hope for an interesting blog post from Vaxholm then! 😉 Happy midsummer!
Ninnie, that sounds cosy! Wishing you a nice midsummer and also a nice holiday! Prague is a nice city! Where did you go after Prague?
23 June 2016 - 21:23
Elisabeth says:
Have a really nice midsummer. We will celebrate at Ragglanda together with other motorhome drivers. Maybe there will be little frogs. In any case, we will dress a midsummer pole during the morning tomorrow!
23 June 2016 - 22:15
Comsi Comsa says:
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Midsummer Hugs ❤
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24 June 2016 - 0:50
Lennart says:
HAPPY MIDSUMMER!
24 June 2016 - 7:23
admin says:
Elisabeth, it sounds nice! Wishing you a nice midsummer in Ragglanda!
Comsi Comsa, oh, we've never had so many flowers in a comment before! 😉 Happy midsummer!
Lennart, thank you very much!
24 June 2016 - 8:19
N A T H A L I E says:
Happy Midsummer!
24 June 2016 - 14:26
♀ Sara Ben's ♀ says:
What an interesting fact! I had heard about the "little frogs" but not about the rod! Got to learn a lot of new things now ^^ Thanks for that 😀.
25 June 2016 - 19:25