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Swedish
Midsummer |
Midsommar
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Midsummer
is the occasion of much festivity in Sweden. This is when
the summer days are longest; in the north it is the time of the
Midnight Sun. Taken literally, "Midsummer" is
something of a misnomer since, given Sweden's northerly clime,
summer is only just beginning. Consequently, in many
respects Midsummer celebrations in Sweden resemble May Day
festivities on the Continent.
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On
the ecclesiastical calendar the 24th of June is dedicated to St.
John the Baptist, and in many countries Midsummer is celebrated as
the Feast of St. John. In Sweden it was decided in the 1950s
that Midsummer should always be celebrated on the weekend nearest
the 24th, with Midsummer Day on Saturday. Many folk
traditions are associated with this holiday, most of them relating
to Midsummer Eve. In some parts of the country people
continue to observe these customs on the 23rd of June, calendar
reform or no.
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On
the morning of Midsummer Eve Swedes decorate their homes, cars,
churches, dancing pavilions and auditoria with garlands of flowers
and leafy branches. Then, in the afternoon, they gather
round the maypole. Practically every town and village,
however small, has a maypole, a tall cross clad with leaves and
flowers. The pole is raised in the mid-afternoon in the
center of the village square or playground. Once the pole is
raised, the dance begins. First in a ring around the pole,
then, later in the evening, a dance in, say, a barn or on a jetty
or outdoor pavilion.
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Most
city dwellers flee the city for the countryside at Midsummer,
sometimes traveling some distances. Some regions and
provinces are widely renowned for their celebrations: tens of
thousands of tourist flock, for example, to Dalarna in central
Sweden. Many Stockholmers seek out a favorite island in the
archipelago, while others stroll to Skansen, the oldest open-air
museum in the world. Apart from all its historical
buildings, Skansen is also a vital center for national
festivities. The festivities at the various rural iron mills
in Uppland, north of Stockholm, are also popular.
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Typical
Midsummer menus feature different kinds of pickled herring and
boiled new potatoes with fresh dill and a dessert of garden-fresh
strawberries.
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As
in the case of many other Swedish "eves", Midsummer Eve
is also believed to be a night of supernatural happenings and
magical powers. The dew this night is believed to have
special properties. He or she who manages to collect a small
flask of Midsummer dew can use it to cure illness. Certain
plants are also collected for the same purpose. With luck,
you might see the ferns bloom (!), for in olden days people
believed they bloomed on this night. The best way to find
out whom you will marry is to pick a bouquet of seven or nine
different varieties of flowers from as many meadows or ditches and
place it under your pillow. Then, you will dream of your
bride or groom-to-be. Another way to learn of future events
is to eat "dream herring" or "dream porridge"
with plenty of salt in it.
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Source:
"Traditional Festivities in Sweden"; Author: Ingemar
Liman; Published by: The Swedish Institute, ISBN 91-520-0113-X
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