In Sweden, the summer is short — showing its beginnings in May, bursting forth in full glory in June and then coming to a quick end by September. By Midsummer, Sweden is lush and green and daylight lasts for all but a few short hours and Swedes celebrate these brief, halcyon days by traveling to the country with family and friends to sing traditional songs, dance around maypoles built with silver birch branches and decorated with wreaths of summer blooms and to feast on the traditional bounty of the season — herring, crawfish, new potatoes and fresh dill, young strawberries and cream.
Of course, no Midsummer celebration would be complete without many, many shots of delicious herb- and spice-infused schnapps — each of which brings about another round of increasingly boisterous (and bawdy) singing! It is a time of joyous celebration and love.
In the spirit of Swedish summer, we wish you the very best of this magical, light and bountiful time of year — wherever you happen to be. Glad Midsommar! -M.H.
0 comments:
Post a Comment