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After long dreary months of Northern Hemisphere winters, the return of the shining golden sun and colourful blooms is certainly something worth celebrating – and Sweden knows how to do it right.
Midsummer as a celebration may have been put on your radar thanks to Ari Aster’s brutal Midsommar film back in 2019, but rest assured, the real life Midsummer celebrations all over Scandinavia are MUCH friendlier. Singing, dancing, flower crowns, and locals celebrating that big golden orb in the sky – Midsummer is a cultural festival you simply have to see for yourself.
What is Midsummer?
Midsummer is a celebration of summer which takes place on the summer solstice (how many times have we said summer!) in the Northern Hemisphere – the longest day of the year. It celebrates the mid-point of the harvest season and the festivities have roots in pagan traditions. It’s considered a time to honour the sun and the bounty of nature, as well as a time to celebrate fertility.
In Sweden, Midsummer is a cherished tradition, and it’s celebrated with family and friends all together! Rest assured, Midsummer celebrations are NOT like those in Ari Aster’s delirious 2019 film Midsommar…
When is Midsummer?
Midsummer’s main two days are Midsummer Day (21st of June, 2025) and Midsummer Eve (20th of June, 2025), but celebrations are held for a few days on either side.
Midsummer Eve is always held on a Friday, between the 19th and 25th of June, depending on when specifically the summer solstice falls that year.
This time of year is a national holiday in Sweden, so you’ll be partying with the whole nation!
How is Midsummer celebrated in Sweden?
Perhaps most synonymous with Midsummer is the Maypole (midsommarstång)! The Swedish Maypole is characterised by a triangle at the top with two rings on either bottom corner. It’s woven and decorated with greenery and seasonal flowers, and then put up together. The Maypole is the central feature of Midsummer celebrations and people gather around it to sing and dance and play games.
Midsummer festivities are held outdoors to celebrate the sun and the good weather and all the pretty blooms. Parks and green spaces are preferred, and the rural Midsummer festivities across Sweden are something spectacular with all that gorgeous scenery around them!
Expect plenty of dancing and singing, including traditional folk music and traditional dances like små grodorna (which means little frogs!). You’ll dance around the Maypole, and everyone gets involved – no matter your age or origin! There are also plenty of games to play: classics like the egg and spoon race or potato sack race.
Image source:Shubhesh Aggarwal / unsplash
Midsummer food
Along with traditional activities, there are of course traditional Midsummer foods. Celebrations start with lunch on the eve, and continue well into the night, so you’re sure to be fed.
During the holiday, you’ll gorge yourself on the following:
- Smoked salmon
- Pickled herring – a beloved Swedish treat
- Gravlax – a type of cured smoked salmon
- Boiled new potatoes
- Lots and lots of dill
For dessert, you’ll get a classic cream-covered strawberry cake – yum!
In terms of drinking, Midsummer is always accompanied by Schnapps and Aquavit. The Schnapps, or ‘Snaps’, is always served with a special topical song called ‘Snapsvisor’. Aquavit is a variety of Schnapps with dill and/or caraway seeds added to it, making it unique and very strong – make sure to have a chaser on hand.
What to wear to Midsummer
A flower crown! Named ‘midsommarkrans’, flower crowns are a staple of Midsummer attire. They’re often woven by the flowers people have picked themselves, so feel free to give it a go yourself.
In terms of what to wear, it’s summer! Something floral and festive is appropriate, and anything loose to keep yourself cool. Think flowy skirts and dresses and linen trousers. Good shoes to move around in (remember the dancing) are essential.
Many people dress up in traditional folk clothing and costumes to really add to the festivities and if you’re feeling extra festive yourself, why not join in?
The pagan roots of Midsummer
As is the case in many cultures, the celebration of the summer solstice is a significant event and has taken place for many centuries. Obviously, modern celebrations of Midsummer are a lot different from how they used to be, but many traditions remain similar.
Pagan beliefs are very nature-oriented, and during Midsummer it was believed that the earth was extra bountiful and during this time, water and certain plants held healing powers. As such, it was common to pick flowers and herbs. There was a belief that Midsummer night was a magical time, and that this is a time of year where the veil between the living world and the world of the dead is thin.
Because of this, older Midsummer festivities also included a Midsummer Bonfire and various rituals which would serve to ward off evil spirits. These bonfires are less common nowadays, though certain areas in Sweden may still conduct them.
With the rise of Christianity in the Middle Ages, the celebration of the summer solstice became associated with the feast day of St. John the Baptist on June 24th, though Midsummer celebrations remain pagan in nature.
Where can I celebrate Midsummer in Sweden?
Midsummer is celebrated all over Sweden! Some will say that to get an authentic experience you should venture out into the countryside into smaller towns and villages, but all major cities in Sweden will hold celebrations as well. It all just depends on how big you want to go.
For a truly authentic Midsummer experience, we’d recommend heading to Dalarna which is home to gorgeous landscapes and the world’s tallest Maypole!
Other great options include Stockholm, Gothenburg, Swedish Lapland, and Nääs Fabriker.
Want to learn more about Swedish folklore with a backdrop of forests and mountains? Visit Moa and her dogs in Torgåsgården with Contiki!
