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Midsummer Festival
For Scandinavians, Midsummer is the largest holiday of the year next only to Christmas.
It is a celebration annually in each of the Scandinavian countries.
Each country has some unique ways of celebrating, but no matter how
they do it, the excitement is that the short days of winter are gone
and now is the longest day of the year---a time to be outdoors with
the flowers, nature and favorite traditions. Fiddles and accordions
take center stage as music and dance are a major part of the celebration.
In Sweden, individuals pick wildflowers and twine them into garlands
to be worn as a crown. The majstång, or maypole, is a huge tree without
branches with another log tied to bind it like a cross. Flowers and
vines are tied onto the logs; some provinces large circular twined branches
decorated with leaves and flowers hang from the cross piece, one on
each end. The majstång is decorated as it lies on the ground. At a given
moment in the program, the signal is given to raise the maypole.
The maypole is so large that it takes about six or more
men to raise the pole very carefully to its standing position with a
height of 20 to 30 feet. Once the pole is up and secured, the dancing
continues around the pole with children and adults participating in
the traditional songs and dances---some are silly and funny, providing
lots of entertainment. Each town has its own majstång and may have traditions
unique to that area.
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