In a lush, wildflower-filled meadow under sunny summer skies, a group of Swedes gathers. Clad in fresh garlands and clothing that wouldn’t look out of place at an outdoor music festival, they dance joyously around a maypole and hop up and down like frogs before sitting down to a meal featuring plenty of local food and drinks. And because it’s mid-June, the sun stays high in sky for a deliciously long time, allowing the party to continue long into the evening. It’s a celebration of summer. It’s a celebration of Swedish traditions. It’s a celebration of life.
Welcome to a Midsummer celebration in Sweden. The country’s holidays preserve traditions that date back centuries, if not millennia—from the bonfires of Walpurgis Night in April to December’s saffron buns on St. Lucia’s Day. But foremost among these important moments is Midsummer Day, celebrated on Friday in the third week of June (this year it falls on June 19) and centered around the summer solstice.
It’s a thrilling time. Families and friends gather beside the country’s serene lakes and in its endless green fields to make the most of the season’s long, sunshine-filled days. In other words, Midsummer is the perfect time to explore Sweden’s vast treasure trove of natural beauty—from its thousands of charming islands in the south to the craggy peaks of the rugged north.
The region of Dalarna, a vegetation-rich area of rolling hills and sparkling lakes that stretches across central Sweden, is where you can find some of the most traditional Midsummer festivals, keeping alive customs like floral garlands and maypoles—the centerpieces of the celebrations.
Head north, to Swedish Lapland, and as you experience area’s verdant valleys, snow-capped peaks, and rich culture, you can combine Midsummer celebrations with the midnight sun. In the region’s largest city, Kiruna, the height of summer means that the sun that doesn’t set for weeks. Visit during the Midsummer holiday and you can join the Dance of Little Frogs around the midsummer pole and feast on herring and potatoes, paired with flavored
snaps (the Swedish equivalent of Scandinavian aquavit). Combine the festivities with hiking, golfing, and fishing under skies that illuminate nature’s beauty even in the middle of the night. You can even have the singularly unique experience of skiing in summer at a place like
Neihku Mountain Villa, which opens at the end of June.
Even better, the dramatic phenomenon of the midnight sun lasts well into July, encouraging you to keep exploring Sweden all summer long.
Read on for suggestions on how to experience the magic of Swedish Lapland during the mystical time of Midsummer. Then get inspired by joining Visit Sweden’s
virtual Midsummer celebration, new this year. Their Facebook page features videos of events from Skåne, Stockholm, Dalarna, and, yes, Swedish Lapland that you can view from home. Participate in the virtual Midsummer holiday—perhaps while dining on some herring, in true Swedish style—and start planning a trip to join the party in person in 2021.