A Very Swedish Midsommar

I don’t know at what point the idea came to me, but somewhere in the last couple years — most likely thanks to photos on Facestagram or Pinstabook or one of those platforms that makes the world seem so hazily wholesome — I decided I wanted to experience Midsommar in Sweden. Maybe it was the flower crowns. Maybe it was the absurdity of nights that never truly get dark. Who knows.

(It was definitely the flower crowns.)

Regardless the impetus, it was an easy enough desire to fulfill: my best friend moved to Sweden a couple of years ago, and was more than happy to host me for an much-overdue reunion in Gothenburg.

As far as Midsommars go, I suppose this was the ‘Friendsgiving’ version in that the Swedish spirit was there…but the actual execution probably wasn’t. We were an eclectic bunch of American, Belgian, French, Indian, and Estonian expats; there were no rounds of kubb or shots of nubbe (though we did have a bottle of powerfully sweet Estonian liqueur that probably provided the same morning-after effects to those who indulged…I took one sip and decided I’d stick to beer and boxed wine).

But there was still a BBQ, albeit a chilly one (welcome to summer in Sweden, where you need to huddle around the grill for warmth), homemade chocolate cake, and a house party karaoke session that started out with your classic 80s karaoke hits and eventually devolved into a Moana singalong. For my first Midsommar, it was a smashing night.

This trip was quite the contrast to the first time I visited the bestie in Sweden, which was the Christmas just before I moved to New Zealand. Then, the sun only bothered popping up for all of what felt like thirty seconds, it was completely dark by late afternoon, and of course the temperature differential was…quite significant.

 

I’m not sold on which extreme I prefer: summer may have milder weather, but the lack of true darkness at night (it’s just never-ending twilight) is just a massive middle finger to my Circadian rhythm. What is sleep?

Still, it’s been a treat to explore Gothenburg now that my best friend has settled into life here; she’s become quite fond of her adopted city and relishes the chance to share its charms with others.

Which, in her way, means taking me on hikes and ferry rides, daily picnics, and of course, so much fika.

Perhaps somewhat naively, I told myself I would use my time in Sweden to eat nothing but green things. After so many months on the road, a detox was well in order…

….buuuut what monster says no to breakfast in bed like this? (The photo may have been taken on a coffee table but trust me, I definitely devoured this in bed.)

Peaceful photos aside though, I’ve actually not been that relaxed. I’m currently going through yet another iteration of the old Travel Burnout & Identity Crisis chestnut, which seems to be happening with increasing frequency the longer I’m on the road.

I had hoped Gothenburg would be a chance to clear my head a bit; that a trip to ‘get away from it all’ up north would give me some clarity on some cloudy question marks floating around my head.

But I should’ve known that Sweden at the height of summer — especially when they’re having such an engaging run in the World Cup! — would prove to be an impossible place to stay inside to contemplate life and the universe and everything.

Maybe next time I’ll try visiting in autumn.

Have you ever celebrated Midsommar? How is your summer starting off?