It’s the first day of Summer! My favorite season of the year. The season of vacations, days at the beach,
long evenings on the patio, graduations, weddings……..
So how are you going to celebrate the start of Summer? What
do you look forward to? What are your memories of growing up?
As some of you know, I am of 100% Swedish heritage. The
Swedish American Community of Southern California was my family. There were
always holidays to be celebrated together much like the “Old Country”. One of my favorite holidays of the year has
always been Midsummer! This is the Swedish celebration of the Summer Solstice,
or longest day of the year. Preparation
would begin weeks in advance with the selection of the Midsummer Queen and her
Court. Each club would nominate a girl
from their group to be a part of the Court. (Yours truly was honored to be
Midsummer Queen a “few” years back). Then
Midsummer Weekend would start with the Coronation Ball. It was a big dinner
dance when each of the girls in the Court would be presented by her father. The
next day is the Midsummer Picnic at Vasa Park in Calabasas. The community would
come together to raise the Maypole covered with greenery and flowers.
Musicians
would play the traditional Swedish songs and we would dance around the pole.
The Court would be dressed in the costume of where their family had
originated. There would be loads of
yummy coffee cake and meatballs served. The children would go tadpole hunting
in the stream. The swimming pool would
be open for the first time. This was truly the beginning of Summer. I
could go on and on about the memories, and how the day would go on into the
evening with dancing and festivities.
How about making some floral headwreaths to get into the mood (definitely reminded me of Midsummer)!
I am so ready for Summer…How about you?
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