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Midsummer Myths

Midsummer was originally a pagan celebration held on the summer solstice to mark the longest day of the year. Although it was later turned into a Christian celebration, for most Swedes Midsummer remains a time to celebrate the summer and its long, light evenings. It is also associated with many myths which are still remembered today.

Lots of myths and superstitions are associated with Midsummer – and in years gone by, not everyone had as much fun at this time of year as the Swedes have today!

A number of supernatural creatures were thought to be active on the shortest night of the year. The best way to protect yourself from the devil was reckoned to be hiding garlic under your clothes. Some people were too afraid to leave their beds all night for fear of the spirits.

But it wasn’t all about watching your back – many rites revolved around girls hoping to find their future husbands. In one of the most well-known practices, girls used to pick nine different flowers to put under their pillows and tried to fall asleep without uttering a word in order to dream of their future beau.