A guide to celebrating Midsummer in Stockholm

What is Midsummer's Eve?

The longest day of the year is celebrated lavishly in Sweden with Midsummer. This traditional festival takes place this year on 19 June and is the most important holiday in Sweden. Across the country, people come together to enjoy long evenings, traditional meals, cheerful music and age-old rituals. Will you be in Stockholm around 19 June? If so, we definitely recommend experiencing the Midsummer celebrations for yourself. In this blog, we’ll tell you more about the significance of Midsummer, the best places in Stockholm to celebrate, the traditions that go with it and what to eat. 

What is the history behind Midsummer?

The origins of Midsummer, the midsummer celebrations in Sweden, are somewhat unclear. Some sources suggest it is a pagan festival, celebrated long before the arrival of Christianity in Sweden. Midsummer bonfires have been a tradition throughout Europe since the 6th century BC, but there are no written sources regarding their specific origins in Sweden. Another explanation suggests it is linked to the Christian celebration of the birth of John the Baptist, but nowadays the Midsummer celebrations in Sweden have little to do with the church and focus more on local traditions, food, schnapps and getting together.

Where can you celebrate Midsummer in Stockholm?

If you’re in Stockholm, Skansen is the best place to celebrate. The huge open-air museum already showcases plenty of Swedish culture, but on Midsummer’s Eve they really go all out. Skansen is filled with traditional and contemporary music, from maypole dancing to folk music and even DJ sets, so you can dance everywhere. Activities include making your own flower wreath and listening to Swedish fairy tales, and of course there’s a market full of food and drink. In Skansen, the festivities last a full three days, so make sure you visit the city’s biggest celebrations whilst you’re there.

In addition, there are many celebrations taking place in public parks, in people’s back gardens and all across the archipelago. Many islands further out in the archipelago have their own public celebrations, and many residents leave the city centre for these areas to celebrate Midsummer closer to nature. Nature is never far away in Stockholm, and although we can’t drop you right in the middle of a party, we offer a wonderful boat trip through the archipelago so you can choose your perfect spot for a Midsummer celebration.

What do people do on Midsummer’s Eve?

Midsummer’s Eve is a popular celebration among Swedes and has many traditions. The most important part is, of course, being together; usually it is a party with friends or a public event with a larger crowd, but spending it with the family is, of course, also an option. The best-known tradition is dancing around the maypole, a wooden pole covered in flowers, grain and grass standing several metres tall, where the festivities also take place. Various dances are performed, often by people in traditional dress. The pole forms the centrepiece of the festivities. As well as dancing, games are often played, which vary by region and group. Many celebrations organise a pentathlon, comprising five playful games and challenges, often including sack races, games with blindfolded players and Kubb, a game in which players use sticks to try to knock over wooden blocks.

As well as traditional dress, an important item for Midsummer is the flower crown, a wreath made of freshly picked spring flowers. Many girls wear one, as flowers play an important role in all Midsummer celebrations. There is a tradition whereby you have to pick seven different wild flowers on Midsummer’s Eve. If you then place them under your pillow, you are said to dream of your true love. According to one version of the tradition, the flowers must come from seven different meadows, whilst another version states that you must jump over seven fences during the picking. In both cases, the same rule applies: you cannot talk during the whole process, otherwise the magic will disappear. It is a romantic and popular tradition that is still practised by many people today.

One other tradition is that the Midsummer dinner is usually served with schnapps, the famous Scandinavian spirit. And the schnapps is served with singing. With every round of schnapps, everyone must sing along to a drinking song. The best known is Helan Går, which can be translated as ‘the whole glass goes down’. So this is your chance to learn Swedish! We’ve included the lyrics here so you can practise:

Helan går, sjung hopp faderallanlej

Helan går, sjung hopp faderallanlej

Och den som inte helan tar

Han heller inte halvan får

Helan går, sjung hopp faderallanlej

What do people eat at Midsummer celebrations?

Alongside dancing and games, and perhaps even more importantly, is the food on Midsummer’s Eve. This celebration is not complete without a delicious meal featuring seasonal produce, to celebrate the harvest and the catch. Dishes served include pickled herring, rye bread, cheese, potatoes, smoked salmon and various other Swedish delicacies. And to round it off, the dessert is almost always made with the freshest strawberries of the season. Think tarts, cakes and pastries. Strawberries are at their best around midsummer, and Swedes often say that the best and most flavorful strawberries can be found in Sweden at this time of year.

What is there to do in Stockholm during Midsummer?

If you are coming to Stockholm for a weekend during Midsummer, please note that many shops, restaurants and amenities will have adjusted opening hours or be closed on 20 and 21 June. Would you like to try traditional schnapps? Then make sure to buy it the day before. In addition, some attractions and museums are closed during the festive weekend, so it’s wise to check opening times in advance. Luckily, Skansen is open and is one of the best places to celebrate Midsummer in the traditional way. If you’re planning to explore the city before or after the festivities, the Royal Armoury is open all day, as are the Viking Museum, the Vasa Museum and the Shipwreck Museum. And to help you get around easily, the Hop-on Hop-off buses and boats are running to their usual timetables, including to Skansen and other destinations.

Celebrate Midsummer in Stockholm

Ready for the longest day of the year? Pick your flowers, grab your schnapps and get ready for the ultimate Midsummer experience. Join the Swedes for an unforgettable experience in Stockholm and enjoy the extra-long summer’s day with all the festivities and delicacies Sweden has to offer!