https://open.spotify.com/episode/6sh4BYGj2n7lIaCR9aN5Yt?si=7d0d0748204e48d3
What is Swedish Midsommar?
A major celebration in Sweden, taking place on the Saturday between June 20th and 26th, closest to the summer solstice. It's a festive occasion centered around the longest day of the year, filled with traditional food, dancing around the maypole and spending time outdoors with family and friends and a damn good time!
1st The Ancient Roots of Midsommar
Origin story: Dating back to at least the 6th century, Sweden's Midsommar has its roots in pagan solstice rituals —honouring fertility, the sun, and nature’s bounty .
Ancient traditions were that Farmers raised maypoles, dressed in foliage, danced around the bonfires, and believed in the night's magical powers— the waters, plants, and even dreams were thought to heal and reveal the future.
The Community focus of Midsommar was by the 1500s-1900s, the holiday spread beyond farmland into villages —complete with herring feasts, lots of beer, and now big cook outs in the swedish 19c summer
Midsommar Today & the great Swedish Fika
Midsommar is Sweden’s #1 celebration after Christmas—always on the Saturday between June 20th-26th, with flower crowns, dances around the maypole, and feasting on lots of pickled herring, new potatoes with dill, sour cream, chives, salmon or ribs, and that all-important strawberry cake .
The Swedish Fika connection: The Swedish fika is the cherished coffee break with pastries taking time with friends (check out other podcast) —How does Fika link with Midsommar? During the fest, fika takes a folk twist: so imagine lakeside coffee breaks/ deep forest fika time with strawberry cake /cinnamon buns between dances. It’s social ritual and seasonal celebration rolled into one. Think of it as a mini-Midsommar in every Black Coffee cup.
-Midsommar – The Film & Its Soundtrack
The movie: Ari Aster’s 2019 horror epic Midsommar sets its story in a pagan Swedish commune where American visitors are drawn into disturbing rituals .
The soundtrack is epic!!: its Composed by Bobby Krlic (a.k.a. The Haxan Cloak), the soundtrack is praised as a masterpiece—“beautiful and haunting,” blending folk, electronic, and orchestral textures that evoke both beauty and deep dark dread .
the Legacy of it is It’s often hailed as one of the best film scores in decades—and recently reissued on sunshine-yellow vinyl with bonus tracks, highlighting its enduring cult impact . I want it im gonna get it!
Black Metal & Midsommar Vibes 🌑
Trve Nordic vibes, Black metal and Midsommar share atmospheric threads—nature, darkness amidst light, pagan history. Many bands draw from the same imagery of Swedish forests, solstice, runes, and ancient folklore.
Fitting to the mood if you Play a bit of Bathory, in the background of a Midsommar picnic, the eerie forest atmosphere hits a different level. Both worlds invoke a primal connection to the land and the night.
Wrap & Reflection
Key takeaways:
1. Midsommar springs from ancient solstice and fertility rituals
2. Modern celebrations embrace floral dances, major feasting, and those much-loved fika pauses.
3. listen to The Midsommar film soundtrack elevates folk horror with chilling beauty.
4. Black metal nods to the same ancient vibes
Tack så mycket
Stay Rad Stay Hydrated Peace!