Midsummer traditions

With the summer solstice fast approaching, the Nordic nations are gearing up for their famous Midsummer celebrations. Originally held on the 23 June (Midsummer’s Eve) and 24 June, these now take place on a Friday between 19 and 26 June in Sweden and Finland – countries with a deeply intertwined history and economy – to give locals a nice long weekend to enjoy the festivities.

Midsummer celebrations predate Christianity and continue to exist in various, albeit similar, forms throughout most of Europe. Midsummer has its origins in the days when people’s lives were very much at the mercy of the weather, and the Sun was revered like a deity. The summer solstice was a big event. People believed that magic happened at sunrise on the day of the solstice that lent herbs extra-strong healing powers and also gave water and morning dew healing powers. People would venture out before sunrise to collect herbs and flowers and walk barefoot thought the grass, or even roll around in the dew. Bonfires were lit, maypoles were erected and decorated and everyone gathered round to celebrate in the hope that the summer would be fruitful and crops ample. When Christianity spread across Europe, Midsummer was incorporated into the day of St John, held on 24 June, yet the pagan rituals remained.

Nowhere are Midsummer celebrations as big as they are in Sweden, where the event comes only second to Christmas. Dalarna province of Sweden sees 30,000 people gather around the world’s tallest maypole in the natural amphitheatre of Sammilsdalsgropen for folk music, dancing and traditional festivities.

In Denmark, meanwhile, locals prefer to celebrate the eve of Midsummer on 23 June, merging together Sankt Hans celebrations (Sankt Hans = John the Baptist) and the June solstice. Up until 1770, it was an official public holiday and although this is no longer the case, it’s still a huge event on the Danish calendar. Both on that evening and in the run-up to the event, Danes will come together to light soaring bonfires, often by beaches or lakes, dine al fresco and sign the traditional Midsommervisen song. In the past, symbolic straw witch burnings would also be commonplace, but following criticism of this symbolic act (the tradition stems from the persecution of ‘witches’ across Europe), you might not necessarily spot many straw figures smouldering away on the bonfire these days.

Back in the UK, thousands flock to the prehistoric megalithic structure Stonehenge on the eve of the summer solstice to witness the sunrise. Constructed around 4,500 years ago, this monument was deliberately designed to align with the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset. On summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone – a single, incredibly durable large block of sarsen – and the first rays are channelled into the very heart of Stonehenge.

Did you know that just over the road from our Cambridge office there is an area of common land along the bank of the river Cam called Midsummer Common? It takes its name from the Midsummer Fair, one of the oldest fairs in England, established by a Royal Charter granted by King John in 1211. The Common is a favourite spot for our lunchbreak walks when working from the office, with great opportunities to watch swans and rowing boats pass by and catch a glimpse of the resident herd of brown cows that do their utmost to keep the grass short.

Driving forward localisation ever since 1981, First Edition is a certified translation agency based in the leafy town of Cambridge with a long-standing reputation. Over the years, we’ve built up a vast pool of trusted linguists who specialise in translating into a list of languages – Danish, Swedish and Finnish included. So when a client sends us biographies detailing Chopin’s life, presentations for a medical research conference, or an 18th-century work on tarot cards (all genuine examples!), we have exactly the right person in mind. We collaborate with a range of medical communication agencies, publishers, pharmaceutical manufacturers and cultural institutions across the European continent and beyond. You can explore some testimonials on our website or email our multilingual project managers at enquiries@firstedit.co.uk to find out more.