I checked the forecast for my home already: sunrise at 5.17 a.m. / sunset at 9.42 p.m. Wonderful- even if it sounds ridiculous compared to the town of Lulea in northern Sweden:
sunrise at 1.03 a.m. / sunset at 0.03 a.m. on June 22nd.
But still it is a very long day. It is light until late and people sit in their yards or on the balcony to barbeque, to visit or to watch some bats flying around in the late, light dusk light.
As I do not know too much about the traditions in Europe concerning this day, I tried to find out a little on the internet:
The dates of the festivities vary a little in the different regions. Some countries celebrate midsummer, some countries Saint John's Day.
- In France, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and the United Kingdom you celebrate the day with bonfires.
- In Portugal the midsummer festivities also include "Santos Populares" (Popular Saints celebrations). Streets are decorated, there are dances and other festivities. The traditional food are cabbage and potato soup & grilled sardines.
- In Denmark it has been celebrated since the times of the Vikings. They celebrate with bonfires and picnics at the beaches and shores.
- Poland celebrate this day dressed up like dangerous pirates, girls throw wreaths into the sea/rivers and big cities have entertainments.
- In Ireland the day is also celebrated with bonfires and with midsummer carnivals.
- Midsummer fairs are held in Romania.
- In Sweden Midsummer is one of the most important holidays of the year. People travel to their summer cottages on the countryside. Raising a maypole and dancing is a tradition.
- In Finland houses get decorated with flowers and birch branches. People celebrate with bonfires along rivers and lakeshores. Traditional food for Juhannus: potatoes and fish
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