And guess what? Lo and behold, I've celebrated it for four years already and I still love every bit of the tradition and activities. Yesterday was Midsummer and I decided to put together a post of this uniquely Sweden celebration we had attended.
From a newly wed to preggie wife to now a proud mum, it still amazes me how time has flown.
*****
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Midsummer is the most celebrated holiday apart from Christmas in Scandinavia. In Sweden, it originated from the time before Christianity and was celebrated as a sacrifice time in the sign of the fertility.
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During the Midsummer celebration, a a "midsommarstång" (midsummer's pole) is raised and it is fully covered with greens and flowers. Dancing around the pole while singing songs associated with Midsummer is an activity that attracts families and kids. Some even wear traditional folk costumes or crowns made of wild springs and wildflowers on their heads.
A friend told us that the pole was believed be a phallic fertility symbol (check out its long tail and two balls hanging) and thus couples who danced around the pole on this day might have higher chances of getting impregnated. Well, true or not, we loved to dance around it just to immerse in the culture and to join in the merry fun.
One of the things I love most about Midsummer is the flea market that is set up in town for the day, with hundreds of booths selling all kinds of merchandise from clothing, accessories, toys, household items, collectables, souvenirs, food, fruits, desserts and so on. Yeap, a giant pasar malam and I dig it. Year after year. It's the most exciting day in Karlskrona where hundreds of people flock here from all over the place and you seem to be back in Orchard Road in Singapore.
Yes, another bag of sweets to make Angel's day! Yum yum!
That last picture is my favorite of all. A moment of pure innocence, bliss, simplicity and joy. A rusty, old, worn out carousel had the power to make her smile, laugh and she simply couldn't bear to say goodbye.
Yes, it's all these simple moments that make up my life. And life is good.
Happy Midsummer!