National day & Midsummer

National Day

National Day on June 6 is one of our newest holidays.

The reason why Sweden celebrates National Day on June 6 is that it was the date in 1523 that Gustav Vasa was crowned Swedish king and the union with Denmark was dissolved. In many municipalities on National Day, ceremonies are organized for new Swedes who during the year became Swedish citizens. These ceremonies, at which citizen’s certificates are awarded, are often solemn and framed by artist performances. But despite the fact that the Swedish flag day and national day have been included in the calendar for most of the 20th century, there are not many other traditions attached to the day.

The King and Queen attend ceremonies annually at various locations around Sweden. The blue-yellow flag is hoisted and people dress in folk costumes.

Midsummer

Midsummer (Midsommar), on the other hand, is one of Sweden’s most beloved and widely celebrated holidays, second only to Christmas in importance. It takes place on the Friday closest to June 24th, marking the summer solstice and the longest day of the year. Midsummer has ancient roots as a pagan celebration of fertility and the return of light, and it is a time when Swedes revel in the beauty of their natural surroundings.

The celebrations typically begin on Midsummer Eve, with family and friends gathering in the countryside or at summer cottages. The centerpiece of the Midsummer celebration is the maypole (midsommarstång), a tall pole decorated with flowers, leaves, and ribbons, which is raised in an open field. People of all ages join hands and dance around the maypole, singing traditional songs like ”Små grodorna” (”The Little Frogs”), which is playful and full of joy.

The Midsummer feast is a highlight of the day, featuring a smorgasbord of classic Swedish dishes. Herring, prepared in various ways, new potatoes with dill, sour cream, and chives, gravlax, and meatballs are staples of the meal. Fresh strawberries and cream are the quintessential Midsummer dessert, celebrating the early summer harvest. The meal is often accompanied by schnapps, and it is customary to sing drinking songs, known as ”snapsvisor,” between sips.

Midsummer is steeped in folklore and traditions, many of which are linked to nature and fertility. As the night is short and the sun barely sets in the northern parts of the country, many Swedes stay awake until dawn, enjoying the warmth of the midnight sun and the sense of freedom that comes with the height of summer.

Many go to dance in the evening, where traditional dance bands are playing. According to the old saying, the girls should pick 7 kinds of flowers on their way home and put them under the pillow, the future man should then show up in their dreams.