Midsummer's Eve is Here!

I'm off to celebrate the Swedish Midsummer's Eve at 5 - 8 pm in Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park, Battery Park City in New York. Come by if you want to! This is an old Viking tradition that harks back to Sweden's hedonic past. But don't worry, the whistleblower stories for next week are ready to go!

This is arguably the most important holiday of the year in Sweden, and one of the most uniquely Swedish in the way it is celebrated, even if it has been influenced by other countries long ago.

The main celebrations take place on the Friday, and the traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole. One typical dance is the frog dance. Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover the entire pole.

Raising and dancing around a maypole (majstången or midsommarstången) is an activity that attracts families and many others. People dancing around the pole listen to traditional music and many wear traditional folk costumes. The year's first potatoes, pickled herring, sour cream, and possibly the first strawberries of the season are on the menu. Drinking songs are also important at this feast, and many drink heavily.

Read more here.