Being in the Skåne part of Sweden this summer because of an internship, I was lucky enough to witness one of Sweden’s biggest holidays: Midsummer. Midsummer takes place towards the end of June on the longest day of the year in which the sun can sometimes set around as late as eleven pm. The Friday before this day, to be exact June 21st for this year, is Midsummer’s Eve—a Friday full of festivals, dancing and food.
Each of the small surrounding towns holds a gathering in which children wear crowns made of flowers of all colors and dance around a pole decorated with leaves and prästkrages. Some ladies wear the traditional costume of a long skirt, button down shirt and vest with black leather shoes. Historically, the clothing defined whether a woman was a maiden or not.
