Which countries actually celebrate Midsummer? And how is Midsummer celebrated in different countries? We have read about the celebrations around Europe, in connection with the summer solstice and St John the Baptist's Day. Perhaps you can add to this and tell us more?
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ShareWhich countries celebrate Midsummer?
No other country celebrates Midsummer exactly as we celebrate in Sweden, and the Swedish celebration with dancing around the midsummer pole is in many ways unique. At the same time, it can be noted that many countries have similar celebrations at roughly the same time.
In Sweden, the celebration today has no religious connection, although we have moved St John the Baptist's Day to the Sunday after Midsummer's Eve. In many other countries, the religious connection is stronger, and most have a name for the holiday that recalls St John the Baptist. Many celebrate on 24 June, which is considered the saint's birthday, or the evening of 23 June. Here you can see some countries that celebrate on this occasion:
| COUNTRY | NAME | DATE |
| Norway | St John's Eve | 23 June |
| Denmark | St John's Eve | 23 June |
| Iceland | Jónsmessa | 24 June |
| Finland | Juhannus | Friday 19 June - 25 June |
| Estonia | Jaanipäev | 23-24 June |
| Latvia | January | 23-24 June |
| Lithuania | Joninės/Rasa | 24 June |
| Hungary | Szentiván-éj | 21 June |
| Italy | La Festa di San Giovanni | 23 June |
| Spain | San Juan | 23 June |
| Portugal | Festa de São João do Porto | 23 June |
Some examples of countries where celebrations were held in the past and may still be held in special places include Ireland (St John's Eve), England (Feast of St John the Baptist) and France (Fête de la Saint-Jean).
In Germany, Midsummer or St John the Baptist's Day does not seem to be a major holiday, but on the other hand we have imported the idea of the Midsummer pole from Germany. However, the Germans erect their poles (Maibaum) at Walpurgisnacht/1 May instead of on Midsummer's Eve.
How do you celebrate Midsummer in other countries?
Different countries celebrate in different ways, but the most common seems to be lighting some kind of midsummer fire. This was also done in Sweden in the past, before the midsummer pole took over. Here are some examples of traditions around Midsummer and St John the Baptist Day in different countries.
St John's Eve in Denmark
In Denmark, people light Midsummer fires, play games and burn paper witches. The Midsummer Song, which was written in the 1880s, is often sung around the fire.
Juhannus in Finland
In Finland, Midsummer is celebrated with midsummer bonfires, dancing and saunas. Boat trips, fishing and barbecues are also common. People like to celebrate in the countryside, perhaps at a beach, with friends or a 'village team'.
Joninės in Lithuania
In Lithuania, people celebrate by singing and dancing all night long, telling stories, looking for ferns with magical properties, jumping over fires, washing their faces with morning dew and placing flower garlands in the water.
San Juan in Spain
Spain celebrates by lighting fires, preferably on the beaches, and organising fireworks. You can see photos of the celebrations and read more on the blog. Ama de Casa. In San Pedro Manrique, a festival is organised where men walk on hot coals.
Have you celebrated Midsummer abroad? Where? Please tell us!
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Ama de casa says:
It's nice to read how it is celebrated in other countries!
If you're inland Spain, it's not celebrated on the beaches (for obvious reasons 😉 ) but it is still celebrated in some places, like here in Segovia:
https://amacasa.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/spanskt-midsommarfirande/
🙂
11 June 2020 - 9:57
Helena says:
Wow, they do all sorts of celebrations there! Fun to see 🙂
12 June 2020 - 7:02
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
We were in Dalarna last year and it was fantastic. THAT is Sweden and real Midsummer
11 June 2020 - 10:32
Helena says:
Yes, it really is a Swedish midsummer celebration! 🙂
12 June 2020 - 7:03
Åsa says:
Åland also has about 60 midsummer poles that they erect. Like Dalarna, they are probably the only ones who leave the pole up until next year.
Check out Facebook: Södra Finström's village association - where even tourists can join in and leaf the pole the night before Midsummer's Eve. The pole has 12 large crowns made from coloured red wood wool and folded tissue paper.
Raising on Midsummer's Eve at 12 o'clock (in 2022) with violin music, the Ålanders' song and ring games. They also serve coffee.
14 June 2022 - 9:45
bmlarstravellingblog says:
Our German friends visited us on Midsummer's Eve a couple of years ago and had a really traditional celebration with a midsummer pole, small frogs, herring, nubbe and strawberries. They were super happy but they promised never to eat herring again...
It's nice to learn about other countries' celebrations.
11 June 2020 - 16:31
Helena says:
What an experience! Haha, not herring? 😉 We think we have seen quite a lot of herring in German shops. But maybe it tastes different there, or is only eaten in certain areas?
12 June 2020 - 7:04
Maria's memoirs says:
Fun reading? Here in Ostrobothnia, however, the midsummer celebration is more like yours in Sweden and not quite like Finnish midsummer - no midsummer bonfires here, we have bonfires at Easter where I live. Ps. It is spelled Juhannus in Finnish?
11 June 2020 - 22:36
Helena says:
Yes, I am aware that there is a Finnish-Swedish Midsummer celebration too! And yes, the spelling, I'll fix it right away! Thank you very much! 🙂
12 June 2020 - 7:06
Minou says:
In Swedish Finland and Åland, people celebrate with maypoles. Take a look at pictures of beautiful Finnish-Swedish maypoles online. They are slightly different from those in Sweden.
06 June 2022 - 20:51
The Adventure of the Future says:
Minou,
we do not call the midsummer pole a maypole in Åland. There we erect about 60 midsummer poles every midsummer, which are then left up until a week before the next midsummer, when everything on the pole is renewed. The Åland poles are different from the Finnish-Swedish poles.
22 June 2023 - 6:29
Lena - good for the soul says:
Imagine how much you get to learn in here 🙂 Had not heard of any midsummer celebration outside Sweden. Maybe because it looks different and maybe because I did not know that the origin is John the Baptist. I had heard about the Spanish fires (since we have Spanish blood in the family), but did not reflect that it was "midsummer celebration".
Hug Lena
12 June 2020 - 5:46
Helena says:
I think traditions are exciting, because they change constantly over hundreds or thousands of years, and "spread" between countries. Midsummer may have both the Christian origin with John the Baptist, but perhaps also an older pre-Christian origin (to celebrate the summer solstice). But our celebration in Sweden is still special and unique, in the way we celebrate 🙂.
12 June 2020 - 7:09
Lena in Wales says:
Interesting.
Neither here in Wales nor in England is it celebrated, perhaps small celebrations in special places, but nothing major.
I have celebrated in Denmark and Spain before.
Have a nice weekend!
13 June 2020 - 11:28
Weda Wiedza Witen says:
POLAND LECHIA !!!! KUPALA
19 June 2020 - 12:45
Biggeros says:
We don't celebrate Midsummer like we used to, unfortunately. We eat summer food, barbecue and decorate the table with flowers. In the past, we always celebrated Midsummer with games, a midsummer pole, singing and a quiz. Otherwise, I have celebrated Midsummer in Portugal, Spain and Denmark.
We have introduced Midsummer in countries we have lived in to friends in Holland, Canada and England and they have really enjoyed it.
Have a nice midsummer weekend <3
26 June 2021 - 9:43
Minou says:
The summer solstice has been celebrated in Russia since ancient times. After the introduction of Christianity, the celebration of Ivan Kupala (John the Baptist) began. Traditional elements from pagan times include jumping over fires and placing burning candles in flower garlands that women float in rivers and lakes. The idea is that the man catches the woman's wreath that he is interested in. Some old customs survived communism and pagan customs were probably not as much of a threat to the system as church traditions.
06 June 2022 - 21:04
Tommy Hildorsson Hildorsson says:
Nice to see how Midsummer is celebrated in other countries. I myself do not celebrate Midsummer because I am a lonely 78-year-old man who has neither close friends nor the kind of accommodation I want. I live in a small flat of 37 m2 on the second floor without a balcony. Have had generous accommodation in a villa earlier in life but it has kind of slipped out of my hands and what was available was this small studio. And mixing with unknown people just to not be alone does not feel good. I've had enough of those who live in the houses in the village and who don't know what neither consideration nor empathy is. But I feel good because I can take the car and go for a drive. I have become interested in tents on the car roof and if the money was available to buy it, I would do it and go north. Because I would like to experience the midnight sun. But now it is as it is and I sit and listen to music, enjoy good food and feel the warm summer wind that sweeps into the room. Happy Midsummer to everyone who has a feeling for summer.
23 June 2023 - 10:53