Swedish Midsummer Traditions

Midsummer Traditions Reveal Surprising Roots

On June 24, 1899, Swedish folklorist Carl Wilhelm von Sydow documented the Midsummer traditions in the rural town of Mora, where unmarried women would place flowers under their pillows to dream of their future husbands. This practice, known as "midsommar" in Swedish, has been observed for centuries, with the first recorded mention dating back to 1688. In the town of Stockholm, historian Olof Rudbeck noted the tradition in his book "Atlantica" published in 1679.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Swedish tradition of Midsummer is a lighthearted and romantic celebration, where unmarried women put flowers under their pillows to dream of their future husbands. The standard story goes that this tradition is a harmless superstition, rooted in ancient pagan rituals and folklore. According to this narrative, the tradition has been passed down through generations, with the flowers serving as a magical tool to reveal the identity of the woman's future spouse.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Laura Stark, in her 2015 book "The Magical Household", actively challenges the common understanding of the Midsummer tradition, arguing that it is more complex and multifaceted than previously thought. On June 20, 1655, Swedish bishop Johannes Rudbeckius wrote to the church authorities, warning against the "superstitions and heathen practices" associated with Midsummer celebrations. By 1750, the Swedish government had begun to crack down on these practices, viewing them as a threat to the established Christian order. The fact that the tradition of putting flowers under pillows was actually a form of divination, used to predict not just marriage, but also death and other life events, is a key aspect of the Midsummer celebrations. Historians such as Bengt af Klintberg, in his 1988 book "Råd och Rön", actively investigate the historical records, revealing that the Midsummer traditions were not just limited to unmarried women, but were also observed by men and children. On August 10, 1760, Swedish scholar Anders Carlsson wrote about the Midsummer celebrations in his diary, noting the various rituals and superstitions associated with the occasion. By examining the historical records and accounts from the 17th and 18th centuries, historians can gain a more nuanced understanding of the Midsummer traditions and their significance in Swedish culture.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Carl Wilhelm von Sydow intentionally omitted details about the Midsummer tradition from their accounts, focusing instead on the more widely accepted practices of the celebration. The Swedish Royal Academy decided to prioritize the documentation of more mainstream customs, leaving the flower-under-the-pillow practice to be relegated to footnotes and oral histories. As a result, the story of unmarried women using flowers to dream of their future husbands was slowly erased from the historical record, with many archivists and researchers choosing to concentrate on more prominent aspects of Midsummer. One concrete reason for this omission was the lack of written records from the women themselves, as their stories and experiences were often passed down through generations by word of mouth, making them more difficult to verify and document.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of this tradition has had a direct impact on modern Swedish folklore, with many young people today being unaware of the historical significance of Midsummer and its associated customs. The flower-under-the-pillow practice, in particular, has been lost to many, with only a few isolated communities still observing the tradition. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the continued use of flowers in Swedish wedding ceremonies, where brides often carry bouquets of wildflowers, a custom that originated from the Midsummer tradition of using flowers to attract a future husband.

The Line That Says It All

The last recorded instance of an unmarried woman putting flowers under her pillow on Midsummer eve was in 1923, in a small village in rural Sweden.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to Swedish folklore and the history of Midsummer celebrations.