Swedish Midsummer

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This summer I'm going to travel around europe by train with a friend and his girlfriend. She's from Brazil, so can't get the same rail-pass but the Eurail and Interrail seems similar enough for our needs. We'll be leaving in a few days if all goes well.


As it's Priscilas first time in Sweden during summer, we had to show her one of the most swedish traditions we have - Midsummer! We decided to go visit my parents who live on the countryside for some festivities. Driving up it looked like it does most in early swedish summers, ie. raining. Comming this far though, we decided to challenge the rain and armed with umbrellas we began the walk to Baldersnäs under cloudy skies. Just as we arrived the sun broke through and the skies cleared, it stayed sunny and relatively warm for the rest of the day!

After dressing the midsummer pole and getting it to stand up the dancing commenced. Bosse Larsson by the microphone led the visitors to line up in rings around the pole and with the help of two local folk musicians sang and took the lead of the dance. On stage entertaining the children (and one or two adults I think), were Lasse Brandeby and the owner of the park, Ingvar Oldsberg, both swedish TV celebs. After much dancing (I dare say more then I ever have before on a midsummer) we left the park and went home for dinner.


Traditional food such as fresh potatoes, pickled herring and swedish snaps was served. Priscila bravely tried them all...


We continued the evening playing Kubb and walking on stilts 😊



Enjoy the pictures of the famous dance "Little frogs" and more.

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Photos

Picking flowers
As soon as the rain stopped it was time to pick flowers.

Sun is showing
Priscila is posing in the first sun we've seen all day.

On the way
On our way to Baldersnäs. Nice view over the fields with the lake "Laxsjön" in the background.

Decorating
Priscila helps decorating the midsummer pole with the flowers we picked.

Up it goes
And it's finished!

Midsummer pole
Close-up and proof it stands.

Swedish dance #1
Priscila and Viking do their best.

Swedish dance #2
This is a piece of cake.

Swedish dance #3
Lots of people dancing around the pole.

Kubb
After dinner we played "Kubb". Pri, Viking, Bettan and me were in the winning team.

Stiltwalking
Found our old stilts from when I was a kid, had fun learning our guests to walk on them.