Swedish Midsummer -- the only sign of summer?

Friday was a national holiday here in Sweden -- and, for most Swedes, one of the most important ones. 

Midsummer.

After seven years in Sweden, Midsummer has become an important celebration in our little family too. Each year, we look forward to it as the first true sign that summer has begun (despite the name "Midsummer", it's actually the beginning of summer... don't quite know why). We also look forward to spending the day together with some of our closest friends, who have been so generous year after year as to include us in their own Midsummer celebration.

Most years we go out to a local celebration early in the afternoon. This  year we decided to get there in an environmentally friendly way!

We watched the dancing around the Midsummer pole. Our children refused to participate. For some reason, dancing around a pole and singing songs is embarrassing when you're 11... or 4! So we hung out on the grass instead.

 Here we have Steen and my great friend Eva in deep conversation... probably discussing the fact that the sun is actually shining and we are, for once, not wearing jackets!

Here we have beautiful Ida, whom we met together with many other friends at the park.

 Luke and Ida's mom, my good friend Charlotte, hanging out. For some reason, Luke sure does look bored. Think he's looking forward to the late-teen years when he can do this kind of thing with his friends instead.

After a few hours at the park, we have a tradition. We all head back to Eva and Steve's house and enjoy a wonderful, fresh, summery Midsummer meal. The food at this meal is very traditional -- it includes herring of all kinds, cheese quiche, hard-boiled eggs with caviar....

Strawberries....

And, of course, newly harvested potatoes.

Oh, almost forgot. Schnaps! Have to have schnaps! (I stuck to cold beer, but don't tell anyone.)

The food was heavenly, as was the company.

 The sun setting at 11:45 on Midsummer Eve. One GREAT thing about Sweden! (we haven't seen the sun, really, since!)

Nico, Luke and I also had the privilege of working as guinea-pig caretakers for our good friends, Helena and Anders, over the weekend. What a thrill this was for Nico, who barely got out of bed each morning before begging to go and check on them! "They might be hungry, mommy, and they need some loving!"