Midsummer fest is the most celebrated holiday in Finland with Christmas, of course. This time of year we celebrate the longest day, summer solstice. If you are planning to visit Finland at Midsummer, the cities will be empty and all shops closed. Really :D If you want to see lovely pictures, here are some:
www.iltalehti.fi
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| Nea's Midsummer 2012 @Merimasku |
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Photo: Esko Keski-Oja
http://www.turku2011.fi/tapahtuma/juhannus-naantalissa_fi |
This info is from
Wikipedia:
Before 1316, the summer solstice was called Ukon juhla, after the Finnish god Ukko. After the celebrations were Christianized, the holiday became known as juhannus after John the Baptist (Finnish: Johannes Kastaja).
Since 1955, the holiday has always been on a Saturday (between June 20 and June 26). Earlier it was always on June 24. Many of the celebrations of midsummer take place on midsummer eve, when many workplaces are closed and shops must close their doors at noon.
In the Finnish midsummer celebration bonfires (Finnish: Kokko) are very common and are burnt at lakesides and by the sea. Often young birch trees (Finnish: koivu) are placed on either side of the front door to welcome visitors. Swedish-speaking Finns often celebrate by erecting a midsummer maypole (Finnish: Juhannussalko, Swedish: midsommarstång, majstång).
In folk magic, midsummer was a very potent night and the time for many small rituals, mostly for young maidens seeking suitors and fertility (Nea's note: This is mostly "a joke" nowadays :D). An important feature of the midsummer in Finland is the white night and the midnight sun. Because of Finland's location spanning around the Arctic Circle the nights near the midsummer day are short or non-existent. This gives a great contrast to the darkness of the winter time. The temperature can vary between 0 °C and +30 °C, with an average of about 20 °C in the South.
Many Finns leave the cities for Midsummer and spend time in the countryside. Nowadays many spend a few days there, and some Finns (who do not travel abroad) take their whole vacation in a cottage. Rituals include bonfires, cookouts, a sauna and spending time together. Heavy drinking is also associated with the Finnish midsummer.
Many music festivals of all sizes are organized on the Midsummer weekend. It is also common to start summer holidays on Midsummer day. For many families the Midsummer is the time when they move to the countryside to their summer cottage by the sea or lake. Midsummerday is also the Day of the Finnish Flag. The flag is hoisted at 6 pm on Midsummer eve and flown all night till 9 pm the following evening.
A few years ago we spent our Juhannus in Cyprus :D It was fun, because the hotel was only for Scandinavians and we had a Swedish Midsummer fest there. From
Wikipedia:
Raising and dancing around a maypole (majstång or midsommarstång) is an activity that attracts families and many others. Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover the entire pole. People dancing around the pole listen to traditional music and sing songs such as Små grodorna associated with the holiday. Some wear traditional folk costumes or crowns made of wild springs and wildflowers on their heads.
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| My first flower crown :D This is not a Finnish tradition. |
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| Maypole @Cyprus |
You look amazing with that flower crown Nea <3.
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Thank you Britta <3
DeleteKyllä juhannussalkoja ainakin Pyhärannassa ja Luvialla on, joten kyseessä ei ole pelkästään ruotsalaisten perinne. :)
ReplyDeleteMiten lie juhannussalko jäänyt pois tekstistä... Mutta tehdäänkö kukkaseppeleitä Suomessakin? Minulle ihan uusi juttu ja aika kamala tekele tulikin :D Tyttärelle saimme kauniimman sentään aikaan! Turussakin taidetaan nykyään nostaa juhannussalko mutta omiin juhannuksiini sellainen ei ole kuulunut. Ihan lapsuutta ja juhannuksia Paraisilla en kyllä yhtään muista :D Nykyään lähinnä Naantalissa niitä vietämme.
DeleteKukkaseppeleistä en osaa sanoa, koska en itse ole ikinä viettänyt juhannusta salkopaikkakunnalla, ainoastaan käynyt jälkeenpäin katselemassa. Taitaa olla pääasiassa juuri lounais-suomalaisten juttu nuo salot, joten ihme, jossei niitä Naantalissa ole näkynyt. :o
DeletebL: Toisaalta enpä sitä kaupungissa niin ole ollutkaan, ties vaikka olisikin :D Kokkoa korkeintaan ollaan käyty veneellä katsomassa. Äitini vietti tämän juhannuksen Ruotsissa ja oli kuulemma tosiaan erilaista: enemmän yhteistä juhlintaa ja laulua :)
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