Be Polite

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Midsommar


Midsommar (Mid-Summer) is the be all, end all of Swedish culture. It's perhaps the biggest and most important holiday in the country. This year, I got to experience it. 


The day started relaxed... My girlfriend and I took a scenic drive through winding country roads to our friend Jennifer's house where we lounged around, talked to friends, and played a fiercely competitive round of croquet...


During midsommar, girls wear flowers in their hair... And this is how they make their crowns.


We just messed around for a while before having a Swedish lunch... Swedes love fish, and at this time of the year it's essential. We had potatoes, some raw fish (which I didn't like), all kinds of salads, and cider. Typically Swedish on the typically Swedish day - it makes sense.





 After lunch we went to the city center where a maypole was raised... It's an ancient (phallic) symbol of fertility (can you see it?) that is supposed to signify a good harvest because the ground has been fertilized. If it's not enough of a strange symbol to begin with, once it was raised we all joined hands and danced around it, singing traditional Swedish songs.. See the video below for some action shots.



"Sure is a big one"


Hung out with these people for the day





We went swimming after in the coldest water imaginable. You really have to take advantage of the summer months while they're around. Then we did some more eating - desserts this time. The day was full, in a good way. Lots to do, but relaxing the whole way. 

All in all, it was a perfect way for me to spend my first midsommar. Whether or not I dance around one of those giant poles again is a matter for debate, but the point is that I've done it once and now I can cross it off my list of "Swedish things to do". 

Happy Midsommar all.

Swedish flag comin' out of my head