A GUIDE TO SWEDISH MIDSUMMER

I can officially check ‘celebrate a traditional Swedish Midsummer’ off of the bucket list! And what a celebration it was. Here is my guide to a Midsommar done right. We begin on Midsummer’s Eve.

1. Build a Maypole

Like, actually.

You physically build the maypole. Well I didn’t. But it’s put together by tying tree branches together. Then it’s wrapped in leaves and flowers. Now that was something I could assist in! It was pretty amazing to watch the maypole come to life once lifted and placed in the ground.

2. Craft a Flower Crown

More creativity being tested here folks. You are given a wire headband and some {more} leaves and flowers. The leaves are more like vines so they are quite easy to intwine around the wire. However, mine still ended up looking measly compared to the well-seasoned-Midsummer-goers I had surrounded myself with.

3. Participate in Games

And not just any games. The most well thought out, creative, and enjoyable games. I must hand it to the Anderson clan. They know how to muster up a game or two! We were split into three teams: the Priests, the Nobles, and the Peasants. Guess which team they put the first timer on. Fair enough. I owned the role as a peasant. From egg tosses to balloon popping, the claws of competition came out.

4. Dance Around the Maypole…. like a Frog

Trust me, it’s as uncomfortable as it sounds to jump around a pole of leaves like a frog, but you have to embrace it! After all, what is the point of taking yourself or anyone else too seriously? Make sure you arrive to Midsummer in casual wear so that you can participate in the many dances around the maypole. Many of which include jumping, running, and walking like various animals.

5. Eat Fish and Drink Many, Many Snaps

More so than you ever thought imaginable. The copious amount of fish you are served can, and did, get overwhelming. I lost count of the different types of fish, with accompanying sauces, I was consuming. And was constantly being passed even more fish. If you aren’t a fan of seafood, this is not your holiday my friend. Luckily for myself, I enjoyed {almost} all of the fishy food on my plate. Plus, fish is gluten free! {Score!} And the snaps, oh talk about feeling the burn. And not the political Bern. You are basically drinking pure alcohol.

But no biggie, you can always chase it with some fish.

6. Sing Traditional Swedish Songs

I don’t speak Swedish. At all. Nada. Nothing. Other than ‘Skål’, which means ‘Cheers’ and is basically all you need to know as a first timer. But it was okay because I had an entire song list printed out for me {and everyone else, not just me, the peasant}. If I had to suggest one song to memorize, whether you know what you’re saying or not, it would be ‘Helan Går’. I could have listened to these songs for the entire night! And I did!

7. Watch the Sunrise with People you Love

The whole purpose of celebrating Midsummer’s Eve is the fact that it is the longest day of the year. Basically, the sun doesn’t set. And it rises at 3:00 AM. There is a light, warm cast over the night sky. Almost as if it is dusk for the entirety of the night. It was pretty incredible to experience. We sat outside all evening drinking snaps and singing the traditional songs. But let’s be honest, this girl got less than 5 hours of sleep the night before {Thanks, Gatwick Airport}, so I only made it until about 1:00 AM before I was asleep at the table. I don’t even have to blame it on my there hour flight delay. I am a grandmother at heart, and my bedtime is normally 10 PM.

Overall I had an amazing experience during my first Midsummer and Midsummer’s Eve! I plan on celebrating many, many more in the future. I have to thank Nils and Agneta for welcoming me into their home, and the entire family for sharing their traditions with me. See you in October!