What’s Midsummer?
Midsummer is noticed in Scandinavia as a celebration of the longest day of the 12 months, summer time solstice! The literal which means of the phrase derived from outdated English, describes the “center of summer time”, which was additionally acknowledged as the normal midpoint for the harvest season. Scandinavian midsummer traditions have been celebrated for hundreds of years via track, dance, flowers, festivals, meals and rather more. Every nation in Scandinavia has their very own particular approach of welcoming in summer time – so let the midsummer festivities start as we begin in Denmark!
Denmark
Sankthansaften (Day of St. John or St. John’s Eve) is well known in commemoration of Sank Hans, or Saint John the Baptist. It often takes place on the night time of Midsummer Eve – which is the shortest night time of the 12 months! In Christian custom this marks the beginning of St. John, believed to be on June twenty fourth, precisely 6 months earlier than the beginning of Jesus on December twenty fourth. In Denmark additionally it is custom to assemble round a bonfire within the night and sing the track “Midsommervisen”. Written by Danish poet Holger Drachmann, it’s in any other case often known as “Vi Elsker Vort Land” or “We Love Our Nation” – an ode to Denmark and a heat and completely satisfied summer time.
Sweden
Swedish midsummer traditions are most likely essentially the most effectively acknowledged exterior of Scandinavia. It’s not unusual for the celebrations to final all weekend lengthy! One you would possibly already find out about is the maypole; a tall pole that’s adorned with ribbons and flowers via singing and dancing. It’s customary for maypole performances to happen on the first of Could, though you would possibly see them all through the summer time solstice. Midsommarkrans (Midsummer wreaths or flower crowns) are additionally the satisfaction and pleasure of midsummer in Sweden, as flowers are central to the celebration of summer time. They characterize therapeutic and love and are handmade with native flowers to be worn by males, girls and youngsters.
Norway
Norway additionally embraces bonfires as a part of their midsummer celebration, and actually, holds the world report for greatest bonfire ever recorded on the earth. That is a part of a well-known annual bonfire spectacle referred to as Slinningsbålet (or Slinning’s bonfire), which takes place in Ålesund, Norway. It’s constructed by hand over a number of days, with the assistance of 30-40 folks and no particular instruments! The phenomenon often known as Midnight Solar will also be seen within the northernmost tip of Norway in Sommarøy. It’s a 24 hour interval the place the solar by no means units – so that you may be out at midnight in broad daylight!
Iceland
In Iceland, Midsummer is called Jónsmessa, once more in reference to John the Baptist. That is distinctive to Iceland, as you would like one another a cheerful midsummer by saying “Gleðilegt Jónmessa!”. There’s additionally wealthy Icelandic folklore surrounding midsummer traditions, woven with magic and thriller. Elves? Trolls? Rolling within the morning dew on midsummer? Nicely apparently it’s good luck and can preserve you free from illnesses the remainder of the 12 months!
Pictures by Julius Jansson
Finland
Taking to the sauna is an enormous a part of Finnish midsummer! There are over 3 million saunas in Finland, generally expressed by saying that Finland has extra saunas than vehicles! Midsummer can also be not a hard and fast date in Finland. It’s both all the time held on the Friday and Saturday that falls between June 19 – June 26, or generally the final week in June. In contrast to some elements of Scandinavia, Midsummer is taken into account a nationwide vacation in Finland. Most locals retreat to their summer time cottages, cities virtually emptying out! You will discover folks celebrating in locations like Seurasaari Island or wherever close to the ocean!
Midsummer with Lars
Midsummer can also be an absolute social gathering at Lars! Whereas we will’t be in Scandinavia each summer time, there are such a lot of stunning methods to deliver midsummer to you! Now we have had completely different midsummer initiatives right here over time to honor and commemorate Scandinavian midsummer custom. Listed below are a number of of our favourite midsummer concepts that we hope you may be impressed by!
Festive Midsummer Dala Horse Child Cell
A Scandinavian twist on Lars beaded chandelier – Midsummer themed! This craft additionally has some Polish affect, based mostly on pajaki, that are decorative plant chandeliers frolicked at particular instances of the 12 months like Easter or Christmas. The colours are extremely vibrant, and may be placed on show virtually wherever in the home. The Festive Midsummer Dala Horse Child Cell makes for a fairly however good method to say, “Hey! It’s midsummer!”
Midsummer Pole Cake Topper
If it wasn’t in your plans to make a ten foot tall maypole this 12 months (which we’ve directions for by the way in which), effectively then you’ll be able to put one in your cake! That is about as midsummer because it will get – however is it simply me or does every thing simply get higher on a cake? The Midsummer Pole Cake Topper has obtained to be essentially the most low upkeep meals craft ever!
Make the Midsummer floral crown
I feel I used to be born to ogle over flower crowns. I had one Swedish grandma and one Samoan grandma, and a flower world of all kinds to ponder between the 2. Naturally, I needed to embrace how you can Make the Midsummer floral crown, which is the lover jewel of midsummer custom. Weave and craft your method to midsummer with flowers and greenery to rejoice these solar stuffed summer time months!
Extra midsummer concepts to discover:
We love midsummer and need to see every thing you place collectively this 12 months for the summer time solstice! Tag us at #amidsummermingle!
#Scandinavian #Midsummer #Traditions
