How a Swedish Midsummer

How a Swedish Midsummer - Survive

This is a guest post by Sofia of As We Travel.

June 25 is fast approaching, and in Sweden, which means that there is. Almost time for the Midsummer holiday Midsummer is the biggest festival of the year in Sweden and is a tradition, the summer solstice (the longest day of the year) celebrating. It dates back hundreds of years and has been a good harvest and fertilization of the soil.

Traditionally, young people pick bouquets of nine different flowers and used in the hope under her pillow to put ensure dreaming their future spouse. They are, however, many adults take these flowers to see. While the roots of this holiday may be about the harvest, now use the Sweden the day as an excuse to have a big party, outdoors spend the day with friends and family, and celebrate the summer weather. After all, we do not have many warm days here in Sweden.

The focus of this celebration and the most recognized symbol of high summer, the Maibaum. This is a big green oasis covered with many leafs and flowers, hanging with a ring of flowers on each side. The maypole is actually a phallic symbol, which has been stuck in the ground in order to fertilize the pollution for the next year's crop. After we put the pole in the ground, we do what would dance around it, of course, someone else to do-we. We dance around the maypole in circles to do strange dance moves, so do frogs, crows and other animals, and to have other games. dancing the maypole around is one of the most time traditions Swedish Midsummer is excellent.

Snaps, Rotten Fish and Dirty Songs
After the dance, comes the food, drink and sing - all go midsummer table a huge selection of pickled herring , potatoes, mixed with sour cream chives and more brandy find, as you will ever see in your life. This is the most important thing on the table. Schnapps are small bottles of really strong alcohol be drunk as weft is designed. A very important rule is that before each shot, someone (or any, it does not really matter) singing a dirty song. Since we drink a lot of liquor, we sing a lot. Singing adds to the festive spirit of the holiday and, as the evening progresses, the songs dirtier and the words are more slurred be. (I told you, this is a hard, after all!)

The second most important point on the table after the shot is the pickled and fermented herring. Fish is very important aspect of life in Sweden and herring is the most commonly eaten fish. While the fish smells worse than it looks, appearances are deceptive and the fish is delicious. There is no good party without food and just like a barbecue is important to celebrate the Fourth of July 4th herring is important to our midsummer festival.

Swedish Midsummer is a feast we have in Sweden. It is the day we celebrate the summer, enjoy the beautiful weather, drinking, eating, singing and dancing. It is our day to live without rules and where everything goes. If you come to Sweden to coordinate your arrival with this vacation should be your top priority. Try to celebrate outside and away from the city. Midsummer is, after all, about the nature, the warm weather and the coming summer.

I'll see you Friday at the Maypole!

Sofia lives in Gothenburg Sweden and operates the website as we travel. You can learn more about their traveling and living in Sweden more. Wait with excitement to dance around the Maypole during Midsummer.

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