Visit Sweden is inviting people from around the world to experience the joy of Midsummer through a series of virtual events. On 19 June, Midsummer’s Eve, the country’s most beloved traditions will be shared through live stream on Visit Sweden’s Facebook page.
Grocery lists and recipes will be shared on Visit Sweden’s Facebook page in advance, for those who want to take part in cooking a Midsummer feast at home. Next to Christmas, Midsummer is the most important event for Swedes, which is traditionally held to welcome summer and the season of fertility and dates back to the 1500s. The iconic Midsummer never-ending lunch party formula involves raising a maypole, where people gather to dance and sing, alongside wearing flower crowns, drinking schnapps and devouring smoked salmon and pickled herring paired with new potatoes, chives and sour cream, as well as summer’s first strawberries with cream.
Traditionally, Midsummer is enjoyed throughout the country at open-air museums, community centers, public parks, recreation areas, gardens and summer cottages. In fact, anywhere in Sweden will do as long as it’s outdoors.
This year, Visit Sweden invites viewers to take part in classic Midsummer activities, such as singing at the table with ‘sill’ and ‘snaps’, watching traditional dancing around the midsummer pole (maypole) and much more from the comfort of their own home, garden or outdoor space and get inspired for a cultural holiday in Sweden – when the time is right.
Each live event will last around 15-30 minutes and there will be written information in between live broadcasts in different languages about the following event.
