Swedish Embassy takes Midsummer holiday

The Embassy of Sweden will be closed on June 24 for Midsummer’s Eve.

In Sweden, the Midsummer holiday refers to the celebrations that accompany the summer solstice and the preceding evening.

Midsummer’s Eve and Midsummer’s Day (Midsommarafton and Midsommardagen) is one of the most important holidays of the year in Sweden, and probably the most uniquely Swedish in the way it is celebrated.

The main celebrations revolve around a traditional raising and dancing around a huge maypole that attracts families and many others, as well as listening to traditional music while wearing traditional folk costumes.

When Sweden declared its national day on June 6, discussions were held about making Midsummer the Swedish national day because of the strong civil celebration on this day.

(yoav@heraldcorp.com)