Which country celebrates Midsummer with maypoles and flower crowns?
Quick answer
Sweden is the country best known for celebrating Midsummer (Midsommar) with maypole dancing and flower crowns. Midsummer Eve falls on a Friday between June 19 and 25, close to the summer solstice. Families gather outdoors to raise a leafy pole, dance around it, eat herring and strawberries and celebrate the longest days of the year.
Key facts
- Country
- Sweden
- When
- Midsummer Eve, a Friday between June 19 and 25
- Symbol
- The midsummer pole (midsommarstång)
- Classic dessert
- Fresh strawberries
Midsummer traditions
| Tradition | What happens |
|---|---|
| The midsummer pole | A tall cross-shaped pole covered in leaves and flowers is raised in the afternoon |
| Ring dancing | People hold hands and dance around the pole |
| “Little Frogs” | A famous song (Små grodorna) where everyone hops and makes frog sounds |
| Flower crowns | Woven from wildflowers and worn in the hair |
| Seven flowers | Unmarried people traditionally pick seven kinds of flowers to put under their pillow to dream of a future partner |
The midsummer feast
- Pickled herring in several flavors
- New potatoes with dill
- Sour cream and chives
- Strawberries with cream
- Cold drinks and songs (snapsvisor)
Why it’s so special
Sweden’s winters are long and dark, so summer’s endless light is a reason to celebrate. In the far north, above the Arctic Circle, the sun doesn’t set at all around Midsummer: the midnight sun. Even in Stockholm, the sky barely gets dark. Many Swedes leave the cities for the countryside, and some consider Midsummer more important than any holiday except Christmas.
Roots of the festival
Midsummer celebrations date back to pre-Christian times, when people marked the summer solstice. Later, the church linked it to the feast of St. John the Baptist (June 24). The maypole likely came from Germany in the Middle Ages; it’s called a “maypole” because it was raised in May in other countries, but in Sweden the flowers weren’t ready until June.
Other Midsummer celebrations
| Country | Name | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Finland | Juhannus | Bonfires by lakes |
| Latvia | Jāņi | Oak-leaf crowns, cheese, bonfires |
| Norway, Denmark | Sankthans | Bonfires on St. John’s Eve |
| Estonia | Jaanipäev | Bonfire jumping |
The 2019 horror film Midsommar is set at a fictional Swedish festival but bears little resemblance to the real, family-friendly celebrations. For another festival of light, see the lantern festival in Chiang Mai.
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