Swedish midsummer tradition and art of a celebrating Swedish midsummer is an experience full of symbols. Above all, midsummer eve is the longest day of the year. The soft Swedish summer night is painstakingly beautiful. Similarly important are the handpicked flowers you choose for your midsummer head wreath and for the Maypole. Furthermore, midsummer is an important occasion to gather friends and family and eat a traditional smörgåsbord with home-cooked midsummer dishes.
The midsummer hosts
The Swedes celebrate Midsummer in different ways all around Sweden. In some cases municipalities arrange public midsummer celebrations. However, more often an association of neighbours, “folkparks “( people´s park) or families get together to celebrate.
Above all, this is the time when Swedes would go to their summer houses and spend the days with family and friends. The traditional role to coordinate and summon the family is often handed over by the grandparents to the young generation. For each passing of a generation, the festivity changes to adjust to new times.
As a visitor to Sweden it might be hard to find information about the smaller community and local celebrations.
Midsummer on a fishing Camp in Småland
At Ödevata Fiskecamp, an eco farm by the Lake Ödevaten in Småland, the owners Magnus and Malin usually sneak away to celebrate midsummer with their children and grandchildren. They will, however, allow you to book the entire country hotel and help you gather materials to create your own midsummer pole.
In addition, Ödevata has its own small sustainable aquaponic fish farm with Tilapia fish. For your midsummer lunch you can order smoked Tilapia fish. If you want to try to smoke it yourself, Malin and Magnus will show you how to do prepare and smoke the fish. They will provide the necessary equipment. A fun activity for the whole family – smoke your midsummer fish yourself. The price is SEK 350 / kg. One fish weighs about 500 g.
Celebrate midsummer in Dalarna- the epicenter of the Swedish midsummer celebration
In Dalarna midsummer is a once in a lifetime experience. The locals are passionate about their midsummer traditions.
In the small village of Furudal they celebrate midsummer for the whole week.
During Covid the celebrations might be cancelled. Therefore it is good to check the activities and before you join any of the local communities in their celebrations.
Swedish midsummer traditions in a folkpark or “hembygdsgård” in Dalarna
The small town of Nås celebrate midsommar in the folkspark. This a great place if you want to experience a traditional midsummer celebration. Nås is a part of Vansbro municipality, on the shores of the river Västrerdalälven. By the banks of the river you can join the midsummer celebrations at the beautiful Vansbro “hembygdsgård”. Hembygd is the place where you or your ancestor were born and raised. Today many villagers and town associations run an old homestead as a reminiscence of old times, namely hembygdsgård .
An example of a midsummer week-end in the villages in and around Furudal in Dalarna
In some cases they will ask for a small fee but above all they invite you to experience their passion for midsummer and traditional folklore music, to buy some coffee with Swedish pastry or a “varm korv med bröd” ( a sausage in bread).
Day before midsummer eve
Midsummer celebration in the village of Näset. You are inviter to take part of the flower picking and the preparation the Maypole. The festivities take place in the Bystuga. 2.5 km from Furual. The midsummer pole is decorated around 15 hrs
Midsummer Eve
Around 15 hrs the village of Dalfors, 17 km north of Furudal start their celebration. First of all, you can join in when the village people erect the Maypole. Furthermore, you can listen to local musicians playing traditional songs. Finally you will learn how to dance around the Maypole. Additionally, you can buy food or snacks in the community house of Dalfors
If you want to continue to celebrate go to Furudals Bruk, 3,5 km North of Furudal. In the evening you can join the 100-year tradition and decorate the pole with wreaths made of crepe paper. Similarly, there are musicians and you can join in the traditional dances around the Maypole and the midsummer games.
The people of Gammelstan in Norrboda start to make the wreaths and decorate the pole with leaves. The village is just 10 km south Furudal.
You can join the traditional Midsommar celebration in Östanvik. This is a village 6,5 km east of Furudal. First of all, the midsummer pole is erected with local musicians playing . You can try out midsummer games and enjoy dancing to the local band Jet Set. You can buy Coffee, tombola and hot dogs.
What is a bystuga ?
