In 2023, Midsummer Eve falls on June 23rd, but in many places, festivities are held during the whole Midsommar weekend.

From the late Middle Ages, Swedes began raising and dancing around a Midsommar pole. Decorating it with flowers and greenery is called ‘maja’, so it is also known as a maypole.

In the agrarian society, the Midsommar night was considered a time of magic and mystery when plants acquired healing powers and were used to predict the future. Young women would pick seven different kinds of flowers and put them under their pillow to dream of their future husbands. The flowers must be picked in silence, or the magic would be broken.

Walking barefoot in the dew as the Midsommar night turned to dawn helped you stay healthy. Wearing a wreath of flowers in your hair is an old symbol of rebirth and fertility. To preserve the flowers’ magic throughout the year, bouquets were dried and sometimes placed in the Christmas bath to keep the family healthy through the long, cold winter.

Today, Midsommar is about celebrating that the best time of the year lies ahead of us.

Like all major holidays, Midsommar revolves around eating and drinking. The Midsommar fare boils down to a few musts: fresh potatoes, pickled herring, Aquavit or 'snaps' and strawberries.  (Unfortunately, no alcohol is permitted on Presque Isle at Svea Midsommar so you’ll have to save your beverages for home.)

The meal is finished off with fresh strawberries served with whipped cream. Any Swede will tell you that Swedish strawberries are the best, and they may be right. Due to the long, bright and cool spring nights Swedish strawberries don’t burn their sugar as quickly, making them sweeter. You can also enjoy them in a classic strawberry cake, jordgubbstårta.

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