Celebrate Midsummer with the Swedes

Midsummer is always on a Friday and is so important to Swedish culture that it's a public holiday. Midsummer Night is one of the lightest of the year and is a truly magical evening. A lot of traditions surround midsummer. For example, girls and young women are supposed to pick seven different species of flowers and lay them under their pillows for their future husbands to appear in a dream.
 
On Midsummer, the maypole is raised in villages and cities across Sweden, with children and adults dancing around it. Typical midsummer food includes different kinds of pickled herring, boiled new potatoes with fresh dill, soured cream and raw red onion. This is often followed by a grilled dish, such as spare rib or salmon, with the first strawberries of summer and cream for dessert. The traditional drink is cold beer and schnapps, preferably spiced. Swedes also like to sing songs when drinking schnapps.
  
Here are some wonderful places where you can partake in the Swede's celebration of Midsummer on 22 June:

Why not celebrate midsummer in the archipelago at one of Gothenburg's lovely Islands - Brännö, Donsö or Styrsö? It's the perfect combination for enjoying midsummer tradition, with authentic Swedish summer holidays in beautiful surroundings.
  
From Gothenburg city you can easily reach Saltholmen by tram and from there catch a ferry to your island of choice. The boat journey is an experience in itself, taking in the fresh, salty sea air.
  
Take part in the islanders' traditional midsummer celebration with singing and ring dancing. Before setting out to sea, it's a good idea to pack a picnic basket with traditional Swedish midsummer food. Fill the basket with herring, new potatoes boiled in dill, sour cream with fresh herbs, flavoured schnapps and finish off with sweet and fresh Swedish strawberries. As the sun sets, it's time to head back to the city on the ferry to Saltholmen. The Gothenburg Pass includes ferry tickets.

If you are in Gothenburg on Midsummer's Eve (22 June), take a tram and ferry to the Styrsö island and join in the celebrations at Styrsö Bratten. The charming guesthouse Styrsö Skäret offers special midsummer accommodation packages, including a three-course Midsummer-inspired meal.

This is a grand traditional Midsummer celebration at the striking Nääs Castle, with folk dancing and refreshments. Nääs castle is located in Floda about 30 minutes outside of Gothenburg.
  
The celebrations start with dressing the midsummer pole in flowers in the morning and include dancing around the midsummer pole. Don't forget to bring a picnic!

Traditional Swedish Midsummer Eve celebrations in verdant Slottsskogen park on 22 June, located in the heart of Gothenburg.

Dance around the midsummer pole in the Garden Society of Gothenburg, by the main boulevard, the Avenue, on 22 June.

Strandflickorna in Lysekil offers a special family Midsummer package at the Strand Hostel and Guesthouse, as well as a romantic package at the Havshotell (90 minutes' north of Gothenburg). Explore the beautiful coastal area by bike and celebrate a typical Swedish Midsummer by dancing around the maypole, tucking into a midsummer feast and enjoying the sun that hardly sets at this time of the year on Sweden's west coast.

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Midsummer at Strandflickorna for families >>

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Celebrate a traditional Swedish midsummer at Baroque Läckö Castle at the tip of Lake Vänern, about two hours north of Gothenburg. Dress the midsummer pool and dance around the midsummer pole. There is both a restaurant, Fataburen, and a café at Läckö, or bring your own typical midsummer picnic with herring, fresh potatoes, sour cream, chives and Swedish strawberries.