Midsommar (summer solstice) was this weekend. Technically, summer solstice is June 21st, but in the Nordic region it takes place on the closest Saturday and is celebrated on Friday...another opportunity to take a day off of work. Friday morning we hopped on a boat near Skeppsholmen and rode the 1.5 hours out to Grinda, which is a small island in the Archipelago. The island mainly consists of land owned by the crown and some summer cottages. The sky was clear blue and the temps were in the high 60's... perfect midsommar weather! Once we arrived at Grinda, we all walked down a path to a large field. In the field was a large maypole. Dancing around a maypole is a traditional midsommar activity. We laid out a large blanket and set up our midsommar feast - bread, cheeses, smoked salmon, different types of herring, olives, potatoes with dill and sour cream, strawberries, Swedish pastries, and lots of wine and schnapps. One word: delicous. We feasted, smoked hookahs, and played kubb. Ewa and I gathered branches and flowers and made our midsommer wreaths to wear.
Then came time to dance around the maypole. Everyone (adults and children) stood in a circle around the pole. In the center of the circle was a musician playing traditional midsommar music while we danced. Everyone was laughing and the sun was shining and I felt as though I was in another time. It was incredible. After the dancing was over we packed up our things and walked down to some rocks on the water. We laid out on rocks and set up our grill. We grilled steaks and sausages and watched the boats go by...until it was time to take the boat back to Stockholm.
Sun kissed and full from our feast, it was a perfect Swedish day.
The boat ride to Grinda
Midsommar feast
Dancing around the maypole
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