In Modern Sweden: Midsummer's Eve and Midsummer's Day are celebrated on the Friday and Saturday between 19 June and 26 June. It's a good excuse to get drunk and is very wonderful for those a part of a community to get together and celebrate the beginning of Summer with dance, music, and a great feast.
The main celebrations take place on the Friday, and the traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole. Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover the entire pole. Many people gather around and dance in a circle around the pole, dancing to traditional music (and even wearing traditional folk costumes).
In addition, many wear crowns made of wild springs and wildflowers on their heads. The year's first potatoes, Soused herring, chives, sour cream, beer, snaps and the first strawberries of the season are on the menu. Drinking songs are also important at this feast, and many drink heavily.
Traditionally, young people pick bouquets of seven or nine different flowers and put them under their pillow in the hope of dreaming about their future spouse.
Midsummer is celebrated not just in Sweden, but in many other countries as well, so the event doesn't necessarily have to be the Swedish way of celebrating. It's just the one I had in mind.
midsummer, community event.
The main celebrations take place on the Friday, and the traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole. Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover the entire pole. Many people gather around and dance in a circle around the pole, dancing to traditional music (and even wearing traditional folk costumes).
In addition, many wear crowns made of wild springs and wildflowers on their heads. The year's first potatoes, Soused herring, chives, sour cream, beer, snaps and the first strawberries of the season are on the menu. Drinking songs are also important at this feast, and many drink heavily.
Traditionally, young people pick bouquets of seven or nine different flowers and put them under their pillow in the hope of dreaming about their future spouse.
Midsummer is celebrated not just in Sweden, but in many other countries as well, so the event doesn't necessarily have to be the Swedish way of celebrating. It's just the one I had in mind.
Information taken from here & here.