Midsummer Eve

After a long, dark winter, people in Scandinavia celebrate the coming of summer and of light, usually around June 22. The celebration of Midsummer's Eve was from ancient times linked to the summer solstice. People believed that mid-summer plants had miraculous healing powers and they therefore picked them on this night. Bonfires were lit to protect against evil spirits which were believed to roam freely when the sun was turning southwards again more... Each european country celebrates this tradition in their own distinctive way.

In Sweden traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole, a symbol of fertility, that is trimmed with garlands of flowers. Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover the entire pole. The participants join hands and dance around it to tunes played on an accordion and a fiddle. One typical dance is the frog dance.

While in Denmark and Norway most places main event is the burning of a large bonfire which forms an important part of the celebration signifying the defeat of darkness. There ia also a custom of arranging mock marriages in parts of Norway. The wedding was meant to symbolize the blossoming of new life.

No matter how every countries in Europe such as France, Ireland, Germany, and etc. celebrated this event of the year as long as the main purpose was carried out and the ideas or thought was conveyed to the people as being passed on to the next generation.

Midsummer Eve