{"id":1352,"date":"2013-06-24T13:44:50","date_gmt":"2013-06-24T11:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fastlandstois.wordpress.com\/?p=1352"},"modified":"2013-06-24T13:44:50","modified_gmt":"2013-06-24T11:44:50","slug":"midsummer-nights-eve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/index.php\/2013\/06\/24\/midsummer-nights-eve\/","title":{"rendered":"Midsummer nights eve"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-1352 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/img-20130615-wa0003\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/img-20130615-wa0003-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1353\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1353'>\n\t\t\t\tFireman Alexius \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/img-20130622-wa0003\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/img-20130622-wa0003-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1354\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1354'>\n\t\t\t\tMowing the lawn is a must.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/img-20130622-wa0003-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/img-20130622-wa0003-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1355\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1355'>\n\t\t\t\tMowing the lawn is a must.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/img-20130622-wa0001\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/img-20130622-wa0001-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1356\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1356'>\n\t\t\t\tLoving the sandbox\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/img-20130622-wa0001-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/img-20130622-wa0001-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1357\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1357'>\n\t\t\t\tLoving the sandbox\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/img-20130622-wa0004\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/img-20130622-wa0004-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1358\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1358'>\n\t\t\t\tLightning McQueen and Bonso the bear is the stuff\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/img-20130622-wa0005-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/img-20130622-wa0005-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1360\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1360'>\n\t\t\t\tGaiting (wasp in the local accent gotl\u00e4nska) is the favorite\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Midsummer 2013 turned out darned perfect thanks to my husband, children and the hosts, Bine and Elis, of the celebrations we attended.<br \/>\nExcellent food, lovely company, lots of laughs. Pretty awesome.<br \/>\nMoa and Alexius had a fab time with the other children and me and husband actually got to complete full sentences in the company of other adults.\u00a0Amazing.<br \/>\nI have pasted what Wiki has to say about Midsummer in Sweden and i have to say it\u00b4s pretty spot on.<br \/>\nIf i were to to get one wish for my friends abroad it would be to visit us on the island over midsummer.<br \/>\nAnd yes, you can take that as an open invitation \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p>I have stuff to type and java to sip.<\/p>\n<h3>Wikipedia on Midsummer in Sweden<\/h3>\n<div>\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Midsommardans_av_Anders_Zorn_1897.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" style=\"margin:3px;border:3px solid white;\" title=\"Midsummer Dance by Anders Zorn, 1897\" alt=\"Midsummer Dance by Anders Zorn, 1897\" src=\"http:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Midsommardans_av_Anders_Zorn_1897.jpg\/170px-Midsommardans_av_Anders_Zorn_1897.jpg\" width=\"170\" height=\"232\" \/><\/a>In modern\u00a0<a title=\"Sweden\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sweden\">Sweden<\/a>,\u00a0<i>Midsummer&#8217;s Eve<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0<i>Midsummer&#8217;s Day<\/i>\u00a0(<i>Midsommarafton<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0<i>Midsommardagen<\/i>) were formerly celebrated on 23 June and 24 June, but since 1953 the celebration has been moved to the Friday and Saturday between 19 June and 26 June with the main celebrations taking place on Friday. It is one of the most important holidays of the year in Sweden, and probably the most uniquely Swedish in the way it is celebrated. When Sweden got its\u00a0<a title=\"National Day of Sweden\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Day_of_Sweden\">National day<\/a>\u00a0(6 June), discussions were held about making Midsummer the Swedish national day because of the strong civil celebration on this day.<\/div>\n<p>Raising and dancing around a\u00a0<a title=\"Maypole\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maypole\">maypole<\/a>\u00a0(<i>majst\u00e5ng<\/i>\u00a0or\u00a0<i>midsommarst\u00e5ng<\/i>) is an activity that attracts families and many others. Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover the entire pole. People dancing around the pole listen to traditional music and sing songs such as\u00a0<i><a title=\"Sm\u00e5 grodorna\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sm%C3%A5_grodorna\">Sm\u00e5 grodorna<\/a><\/i>\u00a0associated with the holiday. Some wear\u00a0<a title=\"Traditional costumes in Sweden\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Traditional_costumes_in_Sweden\">traditional folk costumes<\/a>\u00a0or crowns made of wild springs and wildflowers on their heads. The year&#8217;s first potatoes,\u00a0<a title=\"Soused herring\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Soused_herring\">soused herring<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a title=\"Pickled herring\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pickled_herring\">pickled herring<\/a>,\u00a0<a title=\"Chives\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chives\">chives<\/a>,\u00a0<a title=\"Sour cream\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sour_cream\">sour cream<\/a>, beer,\u00a0<a title=\"Snaps\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Snaps\">snaps<\/a>\u00a0and the first\u00a0<a title=\"Garden strawberry\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Garden_strawberry\">strawberries<\/a>\u00a0of the season are on the menu. Drinking songs (<a title=\"Snapsvisor\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Snapsvisor\">snapsvisor<\/a>) are also important at this feast, and many drink heavily.<\/p>\n<p>Because Midsummer was thought to be one of the times of the year when magic was strongest, it was considered a good night to perform rituals to look into the future. Traditionally, young people pick bouquets of seven or nine different flowers and put them under their pillow in the hope of dreaming about their future spouse. In the past it was believed that herbs picked at Midsummer were highly potent, and water from springs could bring good health. Greenery placed over houses and barns were supposed to bring good fortune and health to people and livestock; this old tradition of decorating with greens continues, even though most don&#8217;t take it seriously. To decorate with greens was called\u00a0<i>att maja<\/i>\u00a0(to may) and may be the origin of the word\u00a0<i>majst\u00e5ng<\/i>,\u00a0<i>maja<\/i>\u00a0coming originally from the month May. Other researchers say the term came from German merchants who raised the maypole in June because the Swedish climate made it impossible to find the necessary greens and flowers in May, and continued to call it a maypole. Today, however, it is most commonly<sup>[<i><a title=\"Wikipedia:Citation needed\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citation_needed\">citation needed<\/a><\/i>]<\/sup>\u00a0called a\u00a0<i>&#8220;midsommarst\u00e5ng&#8221;<\/i>\u00a0(literally\u00a0<i>midsummer pole<\/i>).<\/p>\n<p>In earlier times, small spires wrapped in greens were erected; this probably predates the maypole tradition, which is believed by many to have come from the continent in the Middle Ages. Others argue that some form of Midsummer pole occurred in Sweden during the pre-Christian times, and was a phallic fertility symbol, meant to impregnate the earth, but as there were no records from those times it cannot be proven, and this idea might just be a modern interpretation of the pole&#8217;s form. The earliest historical mention of the maypole in Sweden is from the Middle Ages. Midsummer was, however, linked to an ancient fertility festival which was adapted into\u00a0<a title=\"Nativity of St. John the Baptist\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nativity_of_St._John_the_Baptist\">St. John&#8217;s Day<\/a>\u00a0by the church, even though it retained many pagan traditions, as the Swedes were slow to give up the old heathen customs. The connection to fertility is naturally linked to the time of year. Many young people became passionate at Midsummer, and this was accepted, probably because it resulted in more childbirths in March which was a good time for children to be born.<\/p>\n<p>In Denmark and Norway midsummer is referred to as the eve of\u00a0<a title=\"John the Baptist\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_the_Baptist\">Skt. Hans<\/a>\u00a0but it&#8217;s only in Sweden that it has kept its original name.<\/p>\n<p>In Sweden and parts of Finland, the tradition of bonfires is not part of Midsummer but rather of the &#8220;<a title=\"Valborg\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Valborg\">Valborg<\/a>&#8216;s&#8221; evening festivities, when winter leaves are burned for summer.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Midsummer 2013 turned out darned perfect thanks to my husband, children and the hosts, Bine and Elis, of the celebrations we attended. Excellent food, lovely company, lots of laughs. Pretty awesome. Moa and Alexius had a fab time with the other children and me and husband actually got to complete full sentences in the company &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","latest_post"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1352","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1352"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1352\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kahlbom.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}