Like every other tradition almost everyone has a strong relationship to Midsummer. Most of us like it, others of course don't.
If we take a closer look at the Midsummer tradition we find some ingredients that could explain these strong feelings.
First of all it's in the summer. Sweden is dark for the most part of the year. Midsummer is the opposite of that, the sun never sets around Midsummer.
Like in all other traditions the food and drinks are specific. It's boiled new potatoes with dill, pickled herring, strawberries, cream and snaps.
It's the maypole. The flowers, the birch leaves, the traditional music. It's also the weather. Can we sit outside, or should we set the table inside?
And of course it's all the friends and family gathering with expectations.
When adding all that together it's pretty obvious that we basically are talking about a summer party with some very traditional ingredients.
You might think it does not sound that exciting and pickled herring is not your favorite.
There is only one answer to that; you have to be there.
