The Core Dump

Midsummer’s Eve is arguably the biggest holiday in Sweden, and definitely my favorite—there’s no flag waving and no gift buying. It’s all about enjoying the longest day of the year, the lushness of Sweden at its finest, and eating good food.

So I was incredibly happy to be able to spend Midsummer in Sweden and partake along with my daughter.

The holiday requires nubbe—chilled akvavit—so there was quite a line at the state-controlled liquor store the day before.

Inside Systembolaget (the Swedish state-controlled liquor store). Click for larger version.

A large part of the tradition is the raising of and dancing around the midsummer pole. As you can see, the phallic nature of the pole was disguised by Christian missionaries with the addition of a cross bar which was then subverted with the cunning use of wreaths. You can use your own dirty mind to figure out what the wreaths resemble. Clever of the heathens, I say.

Midsummer pole. Click for larger version.

After the pole was raised, traditional dancing ensued. Andrea was a bit confused but happy.

Traditional dancing. Click for larger version.

Another important tradition is to eat outside. Dagnabbit, it’s the middle of summer, so Food Shall be Consumed Out of Doors. As is also customary, rain was threatening, so it was a bit touch and go on that part.

Eat outside you want, eh? Click for larger version.

But never say die, so we set the table on the patio.

The table getting set up. Click for larger version.

The most important items are already on the table: the herring and the nubbe. Everything else is gravy.

Fortunately, the weather gods relented, and we were able to dine al fresco.

All in all, an excellent Midsummer’s Eve.

Ben Hammersley–whose blog in general is excellent–is apparently married to a Swedish woman, and has written up a great explanation of the ritualized form of drinking that takes place during a Swedish midsummer.

I’d never heard of the last drink of the evening being called Den Bleka Dödens Dryck (The Drink of Pale Death), but it does fit in with the general happy-go-lucky attitude of Swedes.

Still, who even remembers the last drink of Midsummer’s Eve, much less gives it a name? Most late-evening Midsummer’s Eve conversations this particular Swede can hazily recall go something like this:

“Uhhh.”
“Mumble.”
“Mumble. Burp.”
“Uhhh.”
(Stares at empty bottle with great consternation.) “Uhhh.”

Nevertheless, it looks like Midsummer’s Eve is going to be fairly low-key this year, what with the weather gods failing to cooperate: Chilly, overcast and rainy. Brrr.

[Image source: Weather.yahoo.com]

Listening To: “Under The Gun” by Sisters Of Mercy

Friday the 25th of June, 2004 is Midsummer’s Eve, a time when Sweden stops and everybody gathers to eat the traditional foods, sing the traditional silly songs and play the traditional silly games. Most people will also elect to drink themselves silly.

This is one of the hardest times of the year for us Swedes in the colonies, as the country is verdant and the people are at their most sociable and relaxed.

In order to at least be able to enjoy the traditional foods, searched around and found a store in town that sells some of the traditional Swedish food stuffs. I am thus now equipped with mustard herring (senapssill) and onion herring (löksill). As Andrea would say, “Yummy, yummy.”

Tomorrow we’ll hit the store and pick up some facsimile of fresh potatoes (färskpotatis)–the first potatoes to be harvested of the season, exceptionally small and tender–and the game will be afoot. This combined with the aquavit that’s been residing in my freezer for years should provide for a pleasant Midsummer’s Eve in air conditioned comfort. As long as you have the herring and the aquavit, things are going the right way…

If you’re in Phoenix, AZ and looking to pick up some Swedish delicacies, I can highly recommend Cheese ‘N Stuff, located on the north west corner of Central and Camelback. Their phone number is 602.266.3636. Good service and decent prices.

Listening to: Stream from Secret Agent