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MIDSOMMAR/
Midsummer
This
is next to Christmas/Jul, our oldest holiday. It has been celebrated in
Northern Europe
since the stone age. It traditionally falls on the first Saturday after
the actual solstice, and is celebrated in all the Nordic countries,
England
and
Germany
.
In
some parts of
Scandinavia
they light big bonfires, and this is the oldest way of celebrating for
us. The tradition of Midsummer poles is thought to have migrated north
from continental
Europe
, where they started as Maypoles and were part of the spring
celebrations everywhere. The rooster that you sometimes find at the top
of the pole, is a remnant of a practice to put a fake parrot at the top
and let the young men shoot at it with bows and arrows to prove
themselves manly in front of all the girls.
The
marriage myths surrounding this holiday are many. Depending on local
custom the girls would walk backwards around a well 7 times and then
look backwards in a mirror and whoever they saw in the mirror would be
their intended, or jump over 7 fences and pick 7 or 9 different
wildflowers and put them under your pillow to dream about who you were
going to marry. You could also put a couple of coins or a freshly picked
peapod with 7 or 9 peas in it, under the pillow. 7 and 9 and 11 were
considered magical numbers.
When
the dew fell early in the morning, you could go out and roll in it naked
to ensure good health for the coming year. Some people collected it and
used it as medicine or as a special ingredient in bread baking. This was
also an active night for fairies and trolls, so great care had to be
taken not to be bewitched or lured into the woods. This was the night
when ”Näcken”, the river spirit in the form of a beautiful naked
young man, sat in the river playing his magic fiddle to lure people into
the water.
If
you have ever been to any of the Scandinavian countries during
Midsummer, when it’s warm and not raining, it’s not hard to see how
all this superstition has come about. The night is filled with an
alluring light, and the compulsion to stay outside the whole time is
very strong.
Most
Swedes go out to the country with family or friends and eat Matjes
herring with sour cream and chives and fresh new potatoes, just pulled
out of the ground.
Aquavit
or iced vodka is mandatory with the dinner, and strawberries with ice
cream or whipped cream for dessert.
In
the church year it is John the Baptists day and is celebrated throughout
the country.
This
holiday has always been decorated with what nature has to offer, so tree
branches are cut to be tied to doorposts, ceiling beams and
railings everywhere. Wildflowers abound, and everyone makes a wreath out
of flowers to wear.
Birch
branches were the most common, and so got the most use, but the maple
leaf was actually considered the very finest to decorate with along with
oak and beech leaves.
It
was also common to strip leaves from the branches and lay them out in
patterns on the floor.
Midsummer
poles were made up in every town with great care, involving a lot of
people in the dressing and vary greatly in appearance from town to town.
Many
people today dress their own small poles at their summerhouses. It’s
fun to do and can involve small trees, leftover lumber, or a variety of
“bases”. Be creative! My father once made one from a rake handle and
a hula hoop! As long as it’s covered in leaves and flowers, who’s
going to know what’s underneath?
Dancing
around the pole is also mandatory. In
Sweden
the people dance the “little frogs”, but any ring dance is fine. Or
just walk around it with the kids and sing.
It’s
a good excuse to get together with everyone and have a good time!
For
More:
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Swedish
National Day
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