Swedish Midsummer Weekend

• In Sweden, Midsummer is arguably the most important holiday of the year.
• Midsummer's Eve and Midsummer's Day are celebrated from the eve of the Friday between Jun 19 - 25. The main celebrations take place on the Friday, however here in Perth, the Swedish Club celebrates on the Saturday.
• The traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole.
• Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover the entire pole.
• Raising and dancing around a maypole is an activity that attracts families and many others. People dancing around the pole listen to traditional music and many wear traditional folk costumes.
• The year's first potatoes, pickled herring, sour cream, and possibly the first strawberries of the season are on the menu.
• Drinking songs are also important at this feast, and many drink heavily, not us though... :-)
  

So what did we get up to?

Friday: IKEA Perth had a promotion on for Midsummer Eve: "Be one of the first 50 people to come to the store wearing a flower wreathe headpiece to win a $50 (=300 SEK) IKEA gift voucher! " So at 7 AM on Friday I got up, took the scissors and went out in the backyard to cut some greens. Since it doesn't really grow wildflowers here and we hadn't had time to go to the flowershop, we used what we had (and we had plenty): WEEDS! I made 3 "beautiful" headpieces, and we headed down to IKEA one hour before the opening to line up, with all other people who were keen on a voucher. We thought maybe only Shawn and I would get a voucher but since Noah wore such a cute headpiece, he got one too! $150, not bad IKEA, cheers!

8 am- In the line outside IKEA

Inside IKEA with our $150- happy faces!

Saturday: The Midsummer celebrations with the Swedish Club commenced around 1 PM. A miniature maypole was dressed and raised according to traditions. People had brought their own picnic bags with goodies and enjoyed it under a clearblue sky with accordions playing live in the background. The dances took place a little later, just as it should, and of course, there was drinking! However, since we live here in Perth and people don't want to make complete fools of themselves in front of the Australians, the event was slightly more civilised than if taking place in its origin country :-).

The pole:

Ava & mummy Moa with bub number 2 on the way

The eating:

Hanna & Hamish digging in

Anette with her two girls

The drinking:

Shawn with fancy headgear

The dancing:

The Swedes going wild

The playing:

A true little Swaussie- Nathan

Helen with her Emma

Ava

The chatting:

Gossiping with Anneli & little Nova

...And Noah:

"Hey guys, since I'm too little to eat, drink and dance, I want a cuddle instead!"