Tag Archives: Midsummer
Västerbottensost Pie: Kräftskiva’s BFF Posted by Chelsea B on Aug 27, 2021
My first ever kräftskiva was at the end of August. I fumbled through learning to eat the small, briney, dilly kräftor watching my Swedish family crack and slurp. Although crayfish are the reason for the party, the side dishes are often the stars. My kräftskiva debut was also my first time eating Västerbottensostpaj, a beloved, cheesy…
Rhubarb: A Northern Climate Favorite Posted by Chelsea B on May 28, 2021
Is it a weed? Is it a delectable garden treat? One thing is for sure, rhubarb is a classic Swedish ingredient. It’s a plentiful perennial here in Minnesota, too. As a kid, I would head out to the garden with a bowl of sugar, hack off a stalk or two of this sweet and sour…
Barfotavisan – The Perfect Summer Ballad Posted by Chelsea B on Jul 8, 2020
“Barfota utan strumpor och skor / barefoot without shoes or socks.” Ahhh, what a feeling! Midsommar may be over, but sun and fun are still in full-swing for Swedes. Vacationing at the sea and in the countryside are popular this time of year, when folks have weeks of vacation to use at a time. My…
Midsommar: Blommor or Bust! Posted by Chelsea B on Jun 24, 2020
Glad midsommar allihopa / Happy Midsommar everyone! I’ll admit, I’m a little late because midsommar was last week but because it is one of the most popular holidays in Sweden, this wouldn’t be a Swedish blog without a nod to midsommar. An ode to nature and all things summery, Swedes leave cities in droves to…
Allhelgona Posted by Tibor on Oct 31, 2016
Allhelgona, Alla helgons dag, All Saints Day, Halloween. But what is the difference between the names? We like to celebrate in general in Sweden. We are really good at it. I mean really good. New Year’s Eve (Nyårsafton), Fettisdagen (The Fat Tuesday), Walpurgis Eve (Valborgsmässoafton), Våffeldagen (Waffle Day), Midsummer (Midsommar), Cray Fish Party (Kräftskiva), The…
Glad Midsommar! Posted by Tibor on Jun 24, 2016
Glad Midsommar gott folk! The Midsummer eve that we are actually celebrating today is also known as St. John’s Day (English) or Juhannus (Finland) Szent-Iván éj (Hungary). The tradition has pagan origins. In Sweden we celebrate always on the weekend of the summer soltice so actually the longest day has already been on the 21st…
Swedish Midsummer Dances Posted by Marcus Cederström on Jun 19, 2015
Every June, Swedes gather to celebrate Midsummer. Actually, they celebrate Midsummer Eve. It’s a time of singing and dancing and even a bit of drinking. That singing and dancing is quite the traditional part of a Midsummer celebration. As is the drinking, actually, but we’ll focus on the singing and dancing for now, just like…