This year, midsommarafton will be celebrated on June 25th and midsommardagen will be on the 26th.\u00a0 Some people take the time to dance around the midsommarst\u00e5ng, others celebrate the long hours of daylight, still others sing.<\/p>\n
That singing (and dancing for that matter) is often accompanied by a snaps.\u00a0 A snaps is a shot of akvavit, a traditional alcohol found in the Scandinavian countries, which has become an ingrained part of Swedish culture.<\/p>\n
For those who enjoy the occasional alcoholic beverage, no midsommar celebration is complete without akvavit. In fact, akvavit has become such an ingrained part of Swedish society, that the term akvavit is protected by EU regulation.\u00a0 Akvavit, which is usually a clear potato or grain based spirit, must be spiced with either cumin or dill and it must also have at least 37.5% alcohol content.<\/p>\n
Drinking a snaps is all part of the traditional midsommar celebration.\u00a0 And so is singing.\u00a0 For all of you planning on celebrating midsommar this year, it\u2019s time to start practicing your Swedish snapsvisor.\u00a0 One of the most common songs is Helan g\u00e5r<\/em>, a classic that tends to be sung at least once at every midsommar table. Without further ado, the text to Helan g\u00e5r<\/em> (in Swedish of course):<\/p>\n Helan g\u00e5r, Halvan g\u00e5r You\u2019ve got a few weeks left until you need to break out your best Swedish signing voice, good luck everyone!<\/p>\n
\nsjung hopp falleri faderallan lej,
\nhelan g\u00e5r,
\nsjung hopp faderallan lej
\nOch den som inte helan tar
\nhan inte heller halvan f\u00e5r
\nHelan g\u00e5\u00e5\u00e5\u00e5\u00e5\u00e5\u00e5\u00e5r
\nsjung hopp faderallan lej.<\/p>\n
\nsjung hopp falleri faderallan lej
\nhalvan g\u00e5r
\nsjung hopp faderallan lej
\nOch den som inte halvan tar,
\nhan heller inte tersen f\u00e5r,
\nHalvan g\u00e5\u00e5\u00e5\u00e5\u00e5r,
\nsjung hopp faderallan lej.<\/p>\n