Midsummer Celebrations in Sweden

Posted by David Whitley May 24, 2007

If there is one group of people from history that were renowned for having great parties, it’s the Vikings of Scandinavia. There are plenty of stereotypes surrounding the Vikings – big men with beards rowing longboats with a fondness for pillaging and big feasts involving whole animals on spits – but most of all, they were known for drinking gallons and gallons of ale out of big tankards.

Whether it’s true or not is difficult to ascertain – after all, there aren’t many Vikings around that we can stop and ask – but the supposed Viking spirit sure lives on in Sweden during the Midsummer Celebrations in June.

In what is basically a Scandinavian version of the Summer Solstice, the Midsummer Celebrations go on for two days and largely consist of hardcore drinking.

But with almost 24-hour days and bright sunlight, there has to be something else to fill the time, and there are some traditions that date back to Viking festivals that were designed to ensure a good harvest.

These traditions include dancing around a maypole covered in flowers and traditional singing. Even though many are monumentally hungover, there is still room for an iconic family meal, generally involving potatoes and herring, before everyone heads back out to the pubs and bars of Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo and other Swedish cities.

Some of the partying that goes on would truly do the Vikings proud, and for a hedonist, surely the best time to visit Sweden for a city break or holiday is during this riotous two day festival in June. The head and liver may not thank you for it, however.