As I mentioned earlier, I am spending some time in Europe for a couple months and am so excited to be back in Sweden for a few weeks. Right now it is Midsummer! I've always wanted to be here for this holiday. I didn't really think about it when planning my trip (it's not really all that planned) but it worked out perfectly. Yesterday I went to Skansen's Midsummer celebration and it was really dreamy. I honestly felt that I had stepped into a Swedish storybook.
Families flocked to Skansen with picnic baskets in hand and ate and relaxed in the fields of long grass that dot the grounds.
It felt like something out of Elvira Madigan.
People brought their own or made flower crowns right there from birch leaves daisies, clover and cornflowers. Girls, guys, kids and babies wore the crowns! Birch leaves were strung everywhere from store fronts to car fenders.
This is the meadow where everyone picked flowers for their crowns.
Wild roses were in bloom everwhere and so fragrant!
There was of course a raising of the maypole after children decorated it with daisies and cornflowers. Then there was dancing, with some attendees in traditional dress. Here's a little video I took on my phone:
This was one of the loveliest days I've had! You can see more photos on my Instagram. If you ever get the chance to attend a Midsummer event, you should! They have them in the US too usually through Scandinavian associations and in different countries around Europe (which all celebrate a little differently).
Photos: Chelsea Fuss.
What a lovely way to spend the day! Looks amazing.
Courtney
This time of the year is so special in Scandinavia! Glad you get to experience it, enjoy! x
It all looks lovely and magical, Chelsea! Have a wonderful time… you’re off to a great start! 🙂
This is wonderful!
I’ve always wanted to visit a Scandinavian country for Midsummer! Your pictures are great.
i love skansen. i think my next visit will have to be formidsummer. thanks for sharing!
oh how wonderful! i was hoping you would be there for the midsummer celebrations! i just love those flower crowns! i used to make them when i was little. thank you for sharing with us!!
Oooo lovely! Sweden looks like a heavenly spot, particularly in the summer.
Any travels to Italy on ur trip? Xo
Just missed it this time (tickets were much more expensive if we went over the holiday) but I was in Sweden for midsommar in 2001. I spent it on the island of Rörö (http://tinyurl.com/8a5yvbs) – near Göteborg.
Oh Skansen! How fantastic. I like how you got a picture of the Fjallraven Kanken backpack. Awesome! I’m so excited to follow your trip through Frolic!
how lovely! We held our own annual midsommar party last night. Every year I make a whole traditional smorgasbord: I pickle beets, bake rye, cure gravlax, make herring, bake a cloudberry cake, cut up tons of strawberries, quick-pickle cucumbers, etc. and my husband makes the meatballs, and turnip-potato mash (with lingonberries and brown sauce!). We play kuub (a lawn bowling game that dates from the viking era – perhaps you saw some people playing in Sweden?), and after dark I light a ton of candles and we run around the yard with sparklers (because we can’t light a bonfire in Seattle!). It’s such a lovely holiday and so special to us! I’m so glad you were able to be there and celebrate with the Swedes!
Wow. This is so, so cool. How lucky that you get to celebrate along with everyone there, amazing!