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FIVE THINGS YOU (MAYBE) DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT MIDSUMMER
ALL ABOUT THE FOOD
ALL ABOUT THE FOOD
Maybe you're a Midsummer expert, maybe you're not?
Did you know these five things about Midsummer?
1. THE MIDSUMMER POLE
Midsummer’s most famous symbol -“midsommarstången" (the midsummer pole) is said to have come to Sweden from Germany during the Middle Ages. It is sometimes called the maypole because it was erected in Germany in connection with the May Day celebrations. It is also believed that the maypole was used by deacons, students of the time, and servants who roamed the towns and villages and "sang May" for food and money in exchange.
2. IT'S ALL ABOUT PLANNING
Midsummer Eve was always celebrated on June 23, up until 1952. The Midsummer celebration was originally a church festival, dedicated to John the Baptist, therefore John the Baptist's day on June 24 always coincided with Midsummer. However, in 1952 it was thought that Midsummer disturbed the working week and therefore, Midsummer Eve now always falls on a Friday, always between June 19-25.
3. A MAGICAL NIGHT
In the “folk beliefs” of the peasant society, Midsummer night was one of the most magical nights of the year, when nature flowed with forces. Medicinal plants were said to be extra powerful and therefore gathered during the midsummer night. Rolling naked in the midsummer dew was strengthening for health as well as saving a wreath and using it for the Christmas bath. If you were treasure hunting, midsummer was the best time to do this - it was said that enchanted treasures rose from the earth and became visible to humans on Midsummer’s Eve. A tradition that still lives on today is to put seven or nine kinds of flowers under the pillow. In the dream, you then get to see who you are going to live the rest of your life with.
4. THE WARMEST AND COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR
"Växlande molnighet med inslag av skurar" is a common description when talking about midsummer weather. It basically means that the weather is very unpredictable and that there will always be at least a little bit of rain every year for Midsummer. But what does the weather look like historically? The very highest temperature was noted in Sveg in 1935 and then reached a full 35 degrees celsius. When it comes to the coldest midsummer, 1987 is a year to remember. Stockholm then only had 11 degrees at its highest during the day and in inner Norrland it was close to 0 degrees in some places. Almost freezing!
5. IT'S A SWEDISH THING
Believe it or not, there is no other country where you celebrate summer by dancing like little frogs around a flower pole, sing schnapps songs, eat herring and eggs and make flower wreaths. On the other hand, in Finland "Juhammus" and in Denmark and Norway "St Hans dag" is celebrated with big fires, parties and songs - A bit like Valborgsmässoafton in Sweden.
