Swedish Midsummer coming up this Friday

It soon is that time of the year again…

Time to celebrate Midsummer in Sweden. This is a holiday almost like Christmas for the Swedes. I guess it’s a local holiday. Finland celebrate something close to our Midsummer, but I am not sure if there are more people that does.

Midsummer are celebrated on a Friday, every year, the date varies from the 20-25th of June. It have some historic roots back to the 300-century and one reason to celebrate (historic) are the summer solstice. In the beginning it was a pagan feast which later on turned to a celebration of the birth of John the Baptist.

Today Midsummer have very much became “a huge party”. Many people visit relatives in the countryside, where a “maypole” are in the center for a lot of dancing and singing. The weather always are the worst of the year, but everyone stays outside. I guess that it might seem like a pagan feast for someone who are not familiar with it…

Many women and girls wear a crown of flowers in their hair. I took this photo last year:

A girl with a crown of flowers

For me Midsummer is a celebration of the summer, and it is filled with joy. I feel so happy and grateful when summer begins. We have some wonderful days in front of us:) I will get back to you with some photos from this years celebration. I will celebrate on “Åland”, which is an island in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

Until then, enjoy this photo from June in Sweden a few years ago, worth celebrating, isn’t it?

An evening in June