Midsummer Day

One of the reasons we chose this particular time of year for our trip was so that the kids and I would be able to experience Midsummer celebrations. It was a very busy and eventful day for us. We started by going to a community festival. They raise a midsummer pole and then dance around it. Butterfly and Goobie-kins took part in the dancing. This is the midsummer pole before it was raised.

 And during the raising of the pole.

 Up and up.

 Let the dancing begin. They danced to a bunch of folk songs. There is one that seems to be a big deal about frogs.

 A picture of Goobie-kins with Witchlet and Heidi in the background.

One more of Goobie-kins. This time with Butterfly. This was when they were dancing.









One tradition at midsummer is to collect a bouquet of flowers with seven different flowers and place it under your pillow. It is supposed to make you dream of your true love. Witchlet collected some flowers on her way back from the festival, but she says she does not remember her dreams.

All Swedish celebrations involve food, so of course after the celebration we got together at my sister in laws home for dinner. Dinner was several types of herring, new potatoes, boiled eggs, omelette, and of course meatballs. The traditional dessert at midsummer is strawberries with cream.

After dinner, we of course had Fika!

Swedish Traditions - Kräftskiva and Fika

These pictures were taken at Kräftskiva. That is a party that takes place in August in Sweden where people eat crayfish that has been soaked in brine and cooked in dill. Traditionally there is a lot of alcohol involved too but we did not have much at this party. Butterfly is up for any custom that includes her eating! She also likes to hang out with her cousins. Witchlet and Goobie-kins had some fun in the playroom as well.

Here is Butterfly all ready for Fika. Per Wikipedia: Fika is a social institution in Sweden, it means having a coffee with one's colleagues, friends, date, or family. We went to Fika to celebrate Butterfly's great-grandmother's 87th birthday. Butterfly really enjoyed this because there was food!

Butterfly also really liked this nifty seat I bought for her to use whenever high chairs were not available.