If you arrive in the Swedish capital today you’ll be forgiven for wondering: Where is everyone?
The answer is, they're off celebrating summer-solstice-fuelled Swedish Midsummer, one of the most important days in my homeland's events calendar.
The islands are where it's at
Midsummer means that most Stockholmers head en masse into nature - many into the archipelago (the many islands and skerries that dot its coastline) - for a long weekend of partying with friends and family.
Silly dancing? Yes please!
Traditional Midsummer dictates that you should be in the company of friends and loved ones, preferably near the sea or a lake. If you don’t have an island holiday home or friends with one to visit, anywhere that takes you out of the city will do.
Ideally, you should also decorate and raise a maypole. This flower-adorned symbol of Summer Midsummer then becomes the central part for games and (some say) silly dancing.
One of these dances, Små grodorna (it literally means The Small Frogs), which dictates that you adopt the mannerisms of a frog, is a particular favourite. It's also one that typically causes a lot of mirth among foreign visitors.
A night without end
I have fantastic childhood memories of celebrating Midsummer on the coast outside the town of Norrtälje. There could be upwards of 20 adults and at least as many children there for the long weekend, half of whom arrived in their yachts. We had the run of the place climbing trees, swimming, diving from the dock, rowing and fishing. And because the sun literally never sets, there's no curfew - heaven for us kids!
One particularly memorable year, one of the guests organised a treasure hunt for the kids, complete with a pirate-style map. When we eventually found the bounty (and yes, we had to dig for it) it was a large hole filled to the top with lollipops. The map maker sure earned his stripes that day!
A time to dress up
Midsummer is also a time to wear your best summer clobber. White is always popular (remember, this whole event is about celebrating the arrival of light and the warm days of summer), as are flower garlands and wreaths.
Perhaps unsurprisingly if you ask me, no outfit is complete without jewellery. Add a sprinkle of Scandinavian cool to your summer style with a piece from my Wavelife collection. All the necklaces, earrings and bracelets are inspired by the shapes in and around the Swedish coast. I hope you find something that speaks to you.
Glad Midsommar/Happy Midsummer!
P. S For a crash course in the customs of this solstice-themed holiday, check out this humorous video, Swedish Midsummer for Dummies
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