Why do we celebrate Midsummer? - traditions and rituals

Why do we celebrate Midsummer? With the Midsummer holiday fast approaching, we take the opportunity to explore the traditions and rituals associated with Midsummer.

Updated 2021

Why do we celebrate Midsummer?

It is likely that the summer solstice was celebrated in some way in pre-Christian times, and midsummer celebrations are mentioned in Icelandic sagas, but nothing is really known about how the celebrations took place.

What is known, however, is that the Church began celebrating St John the Baptist's Day on 24 June in the 3rd century. In several other languages, the holiday was given a name linked to St John the Baptist (Danish: Sankt Hans aften and Finnish: Juhannus), but in Sweden we stick to the name 'midsummer'.

The Church of Sweden struggled to get people to switch from the sometimes boisterous dancing and shameless singing to a more religiously orientated celebration, but was far less successful than Christmas.

When do you celebrate Midsummer?

Midsummer is celebrated near the summer solstice and in Sweden Midsummer's Eve falls between 19 and 25 June. This year (2021) we celebrate on Friday 25 June.

Saint John the Baptist's Day is a Christian holiday traditionally celebrated on 24 June, but in Sweden it has been moved to the Sunday after Midsummer's Day (21-27 June).

Midsummer traditions and rituals

Midsummer traditions and rituals have changed over the years. Traditionally, the holiday has been linked to magical beliefs about the Midsummer night, and it has also been a time for people to socialise and party, preferably in nature or in the countryside. Here are nine traditions that can be linked to the Midsummer weekend.

1. midsummer pole

The midsummer pole probably came from Germany in the Middle Ages. Poles with crossbars and wreaths first appeared on fine farms in the early 19th century. The pole has sometimes been associated with either a phallic symbol or religion, but there is no scientific evidence for either. The reason the pole is sometimes called a 'maypole' is because 'maja' means to adorn or leaf, and has nothing to do with the month of May.

2. Dance and games

Dancing around the midsummer pole is a tradition that dates back to the 19th century. Today, many other types of midsummer games are also common.

3. Little frogs

The 'Little Frogs' song probably comes from a ditty sung by British soldiers about their French enemies during the Napoleonic Wars. At least if we are to believe Nordic Museum. If one were to believe instead Institute for Languages and Folklore was created by Små grodorna at the Nääs craft school, where at the turn of the century there were courses in song games and dances.

4. Seven types of flowers

In Swedish peasant society, Midsummer Night was associated with magic and supernatural powers. In various ways, people tried to use the magic of the night to predict the future. The number seven is magical and by jumping seven fences you could get good health or a good harvest. By placing seven types of flowers under your pillow, you could dream of the person you were going to marry.

5. Midsommarkransen

Leaves and flowers are important at Midsummer and people like to decorate what they can, so it's perhaps not surprising that people want to adorn their heads with a wreath. According to some sources, including svt, in the past you could save a dried midsummer wreath and put it in the Christmas bath. This would be a way to get energy from the magical midsummer night during the winter.

6. Celebrating in the countryside

When Sweden was industrialised at the turn of the last century, many people moved to the cities. People had more money to move around and holidays in the countryside became popular. It became common to celebrate Midsummer with farming relatives in the countryside. For those who could not afford to travel to the countryside, Midsummer celebrations were also organised at Skansen and in various parks in the city.

7. Midsummer fire

Lighting a midsummer fire and dancing around the flames is an old midsummer custom described as common from the Middle Ages until the late 19th century. In Denmark, Norway and Finland, it is still common to light fires at Midsummer. But maybe there is a Midsummer fire that is lit in Sweden too?

8. Herring, new potatoes and strawberries

There has always been some kind of festive food at Midsummer, but the tradition of herring, new potatoes and strawberries is not particularly old. Eating herring has a long history in Sweden, but putting it in pickles with sugar only became common in the 20th century. Fresh potatoes were a luxury rich people began to indulge in at the beginning of the 20th century, while for "ordinary people" it was a huge waste to eat the potato before it grew big.

Strawberries are an even more recent tradition and only started being grown in the fields in the mid-20th century. What did people eat back then? Well, probably fish, meat, pork, white porridge (porridge made from wheat flour, barley or rice groats cooked with milk) and filbunke.

9. Beer and spiced spirits

According to an article on svt from 2017, the number of people shopping at Systembolaget on the day before Midsummer triples compared to a normal Thursday. The product category with the highest percentage increase is spiced spirits. It is also popular to buy light lager for the Midsummer weekend.

Can you tell us about any other traditions or rituals related to Midsummer? How do you celebrate yourself?