European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 29, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse I Summers woman in Folk costume Lor Titi total Midsummer Story and photos by Linda White travel editor it in t really Midsummer by the Calendar and the maypole is raised in june but Midsummer is Sweden s super Celebration nevertheless shop close people dress in Folk costume and head fur the shores of Lake Siljan where the revels reach their Peak. Once Ripon a time the swedes observed Midsummer on Une 24, the Day on the ecclesiastical Calendar dedicated to St. John the Baptist. But in the 1950s, the Date was fixed at the weekend closest to june 24, and Friday was named the big Day Midsummer eve on that morning the swedes decorate their Homes and churches and some even their cars bicycles and baby carriages with Birch branches and garlands of wildflowers. Are those people gathering Flowers making bouquets for decoration or for dreaming tradition has it that Midsummer eve is a time of supernatural happenings a time for looking into the future. To dream about the person you will marry collect in silence a bouquet of seven or nine different wildflowers from As Many different Meadows and place it under your Pillow. Flowers gathered at Midsummer arc valued also or their medicinal Powers. A dried bouquet Hung Over the Entrance to a barn ensures the Good health of the livestock. Ever Midsummer Dew is magical. A vial of Dew collected then is said to help cure illness but a variation on the theme is certainly More fun the custom of undressing and roiling in the wet grass either to get Well or to Ward off sickness the Midsummer tradition is strongest in the Delarna Region of Sweden especially at Lake Siljan. Each tiny Village has its maypole and festivities. A l Ood place for joining in several of the Celebration is tall Crk at the South end of the Lake about Halfway by Lewcun Ratvik and leks and. Tallberg is a Small Community made up primarily of family style hotels arms and artisans workshops. The hotels make sure the guests join in the fun but their fast is definitely not a show put on for tourists in is grass roots folklore. Some villages get an Early Start with the maypole raising on thursday and others wait until saturday but Tel Oberfi Sticks with the evening of Midsummer eve. ". The festivities begin with a Short procession to the maypole Field with costumed children and their elders bearing the decorations for the maypole. A band of fiddlers leads the Way and ploys for dancing while the maypole is being decorated. The adornments vary Tittle from Village to Village and All Are symbolic. The maypole is crowned by a rooster the Lin of watchfulness. Two Blue and yellow streamers Sweden s National colors arc gifts of two brides who married last Midsummer. Two rings symbolist Unity a heart stands for love and two crossed arrows Are reminders of the nation s Freedom won in the 16th Century. Green fir branches stand for returning life after the Winter and 12 bouquets Are for the months of the year six on the East Side Are yellow Lor the Sunrise six on the West symbolize the Lake. The plaited Birch branches that cover the pole Complete the . Ticino and will remain in place until next Midouin. the decorating is done amid much hammering and nailing and advice from All and sundry the maypole is ready to be raised. Most of the Able bodied men and not a few of the Little boys lend a hand but a select few Wield the crossed poles that alternately support the pole and push it the final push it stands straight nearly 40 feel tall. The applause and cheers Are drowned by the plaintive Salute of the Lur a swedish version of Thea Phorn. Now comes the dancing everyone from Granny to toddler joining in. Many Wear priceless hand Woven and embroidered garments Many Wear jeans and to shirts almost All Wear crowns of wildflowers the dancing May go on past Sunrise at 3 . It s hard to Tell because at this time of year it never really gets dark. Only a strangely exhilarating dusk settles. -. 1 stayed Ai the hotel Klockare Garden s-79033 Tallberg to phone 0247-50460 or s026dpart of the Countryside Sweden Chain. It is situated in Green Meadows above Lake Siljan and in made up of several buildings with a few rooms in each. Like other hotels in this group it is Strong on Charm As Well As Comfort. A Colony of artists and craftsmen hive Little shops on the grounds and a Coffee shop and a Good souvenir shop Are part of the Complex. The hotel accepts the swed Cheque the go As you please payment plan that 1$ Good in about 200 hotels in the country. Buy it before you go at the current Exchange rate and Book your first night. Booking for the following nights can be made at the reception desk of the hotel where you Are staying. During Midsummer festivities the hotel posts a schedule of the Day s events that Are within easy reach of Tallberg the tourist office in leks and also provides and English language listing of celebrations in the area. In addition to the maypole raising at Tallberg the visitor should attend he dance on the pier at Hjortaas and the Landing of the Church boats at leks and. The Church boats resemble Little Viking ships and Are propelled by 10 sets of oars. For years they brought the Folk from outlying areas to leks and for sunday services. Now the boats Are used for festive events and take part in Church boat races the first weekend in july for information about travel in Sweden Contact swedish National tourist office Glockengiese Serwazi 2-4, d-2000 Hamburg 1, Germany. Tel. 040-3 301b6. Or swedish tourist Board Box 7473, s-10392 Stockholm Sweden. Tel. 08-7892000. ,19tt Oropes Magazine 71 7
