Midsummer is also seen in other countries such as Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway as well as many others. From the astronomical point of view, it falls on a day between June 19 and June 25.
Some of the dances and rites that the Swedes perform are believed to have been devoted to celebrate the sun, which were popular acts during the Nordic Bronze Age.
However, midsummer in Phuket is a time for reunions and for people to meet up and have fun. Home - Kitchen Bar Bed in Kalim recently celebrated this wonderful tradition by preparing an evening filled with traditional food whipped up by Chef Daniel Isberg.
The Phuket News also headed down to the event to find out more. The room was filled with many people enjoying the local singing and dancing. The local Swedes danced around a midsommarstång (manmade tree with leaves and flowers).
Björn Karlqvist, scuba diving instructor of Royal Travel, told The Phuket News, “It’s a great idea to carry on the celebrations in Thailand. However, obviously in Sweden there are far more activities to be enjoyed.
“Its hard to tell because a real Midsummer for me would be in “smögen” the westcoast in Sweden. We would be drinking and eating from the morning to late night, as well as dancing to music and making the ‘midsommarstång’.
“Also, “färskpotatis med dill” and “Färska smögenräkor” is amazing and you can only get it over in Sweden. So having the opportunity to eat these delicacies and dance around to Swedish music here, is what makes the day so memorable.”
Swedish bartender and hostess Håkan Hallin, best known for the reality show Ferry, said, “I think it’s fantastic that we Swedes can meet here in Phuket once a year and eat Swedish delicacies like pickled herring and meatballs, and sing traditional Swedish snaps songs.
“The Swedish midsummer is known for always falling when it rains in Sweden, so it is wonderful to be able to celebrate Midsummer here in Phuket.
“A way to predict the future still exists. A woman normally picks seven or nine kinds of flowers to lay under her pillow on Midsummer night. In the dream, the woman will see whom to live her life with.
“There are many different activities that the Swedes do to have fun including dancing around the midsummer wreath, bowler game played on a lawn, jumping around in a sack, singing Swedish songs, and games of all kinds that you would never normally play during the rest of the year.
“Swedes can actually be quite boring, we socialise too little with our families, meet cousins and relatives on Christmas Eve, Easter Saturday, and Midsummer evening, so three times a year only. This is very normal for many Swedish families. So overall, I am glad to be celebrating in Phuket.”