How Swedes make merry in the spirit of Midsummer

On June 20 be sure to listen out for the distant sound of Viking songs from neighbouring apartments and villas.

It’s Midsummer, the mid-month solstice festival for Swedes across the UAE.

Back in Europe, it typically marks the time when schools recess for five weeks and friends and families gather for a seasonal feast. In the south of Sweden, around this time of year, the sun sets for only a few hours; while in the north it’s permanently high in the sky.

While the occasion in Sweden would normally be marked by large communal gatherings at long picnic tables in the countryside, in Dubai the celebration has undergone some gentle modifications.

Namely, the elimination of the traditional maypole. In the motherland, the well-organised Swedes would commonly start picking flowers on Midsummer’s Eve to entirely cover the structure. The maypole would then be winched high in the air in a location with enough space for ring dances to ensue, much to the delight of children and adults alike.

One floral tradition that has prevailed in the Gulf, however, is that of women donning brightly coloured head wreaths. Florists in Dubai are now unfazed by the annual requests from expats and will fashion an assortment of wild flowers and grasses into a scented Scandinavian crown for about Dh100.

Swedish ladies, who host midsummer parties, will also often wear a traditional folk dress consisting of a billowing white shirt, blue bodice and a full skirt with a yellow pinafore panel.

Thankfully, the formerly punishable-by-death faux pas of not covering the hair, or having skirts no more than 20 centimetres from the ground, have all but faded away.

In true Northern European style, if you’re invited to a midsummer meal, you’ll be treated to a smorgasbord of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, new potatoes and pickled herring – newbies, beware the mustard-infused variety.

And with this being such an eagerly awaited event of the year, singing and merriment is very much the order of the day. Hosts, more often than not, will provide song-sheets with the lyrics to traditional songs, so that everyone can add their voice to the chorus.

Of the numerous rallying cries, the catchiest and easiest to pronounce is arguably Helan Går, which is almost considered mandatory these days at any festive Swedish occasion.

Dancing and revelry often follow the banquet and extend long into the night. However, should tiredness take hold early and you also just happen to be a single lady, there’s a romantic ritual that Swedes would highly recommend. Carefully make a posy of seven different flowers and place them under your pillow before going to sleep. Legend has it that visions of your future spouse will appear to you, making for an authentically Scandinavian midsummer night’s dream.