noisedfisk

Back in time in northern Europe, you’d be so happy when the short and nice summer is finally here after the long cold and dark winter, that you’d have to celebrate it with much joy, ale, food, music, dance and good bonfires. Nowadays the tradition is still here as a neopagan holiday (which became Saint John feast in catholic countries) and Scandinavians are preparing the new Midsummer’s Day. Don’t mess with Swedes and Finns about it : this day is as important as Christmas.

In Sweden, Midsommar lasts two days - for Midsummer’s Eve and Midsummer’s Day - and starts on the third Friday of June, in order to make a long and dependable weekend. The traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole : the Majstång (see picture). Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover, to “may”, the entire pole. Raising and dancing around a maypole is primarily an activity which attracts families, even though it traditionally was a fertility ritual. Dancing around the pole is often accompanied by traditional music and the wearing of traditional folk costumes. The year’s first potatoes, pickled herring, sour cream, and possibly the first strawberries of the season are on the menu.

In Finland, Åland and Karelia, Juhannus is a notable occasion for indecently drunkenness, happiness and revels, the Saturday falling between June 20th and 28th. While in regions where Swedish language and culture have their stronghold, maypoles are used as in Sweden, in the rest of the country a bonfire - Kokko - is the center of the celebration and is used to smoke the fish caught from the nearby lakes.

In Denmark and Norway, the holiday has been christianized and is called Sankt Hans aften - St. John’s Eve - and takes place on June 23rd. Bonfires on the beach, speeches, picnics and songs are traditional.

If you are in USA, don’t miss the New York City Swedish Midsummer celebrations in Battery Park, which attracts some 5,000 people annually. It is also celebrated locally in Minnesota, which has a substantial Scandinavian element.

Update - I forgot about Iceland and Faroe Islands… They do celebrate Midsummer too. Norwegians Vikings imported this holiday in their luggages when they arrived in both islands 12 centuries ago. The celebration takes place on June 24th, the longest day in the year (24 hours of daylight). Connected with this festival are many superstitions, most of them revolving around Midsummer Night. During this strange night cows are said to speak the language of men and seals are reputed to shed their skins. Humans are also encouraged to go out and gather grasses and stones which are endowed with magical powers. The dew which forms during Midsummer Night is supposed to possess medicinal properties for those who are brave enough to bathe naked in its healing drops; and one can also make a wish which, hopefully, will come true.

Photo: Fredrik Sweger, Lou B/Fredrik Sweger, Swedish Institute

This entry was posted on Monday, June 13th, 2005 at 08:36 and is filed under , , , , , , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.