Trevlig Midsommar!

This coming weekend Sweden celebrates the wonders of nature and life, where everything in nature thrives, the time of the year with the most daylight hours.

Midsommar refers to the period of time centered around the day of summer solstice and in Sweden it is considered the greatest festival of the year.

Families and friends often gather in community centers/ houses or private places.

Here is a small excerpt from Wikipedia on "midsommar":

In modern Sweden, Midsummer's Eve and Midsummer's Day (Midsommarafton and Midsommardagen) were formerly celebrated on 23 June and 24 June, but since 1953 the celebration has been moved to the Friday and Saturday between 19 June and 26 June. It is one of the most important holidays of the year in Sweden, and probably the most uniquely Swedish in the way it is celebrated. The main celebrations take place on the Friday, and the traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole. Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover the entire pole.

Raising and dancing around a maypole (majstång or midsommarstång) is an activity that attracts families and many others. People dancing around the pole listen to traditional music and some even wear traditional folk costumes. In addition, many wear crowns made of wild springs and wildflowers on their heads. The year's first potatoes, pickled herring, Chives, sour cream, and possibly the first strawberries of the season are on the menu. Drinking songs are also important at this feast, and many drink heavily...

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Personally I think it is a fun way of celebrating the most lively time of the year.
How will we celebrate?
We'll be enjoying the nice weather, chill in our huge, nice garden and maybe check out some of the activities in or around Åhus. But only if we feel like it! *lol*

HASI worked hard the last few days and managed to get the rest of the firewood stacked and under cover. ♥
Now it's just a question of doing grocery shopping and mowing the lawn before midsommar weekend starts...

I went on a walk with Cleo yesterday evening and IT WAS SO NICE!
I love walking through the woods nearby where the birds make music.
CLEO sniffs her way along the trail, left, right, back and forth...
Sometimes we meet runners, horses and their riders, hikers and dogs.

We ran into a woman in a bright blue shirt and walking shoes. I am sure her goal was to get some fresh air, exercise and relaxation. I mean, I don't really know if she succeeded with all three cause she was wearing headphones...
I don't know what she was listening to, maybe some soft music or a meditation - and maybe it worked for her, but I just wondered.

A lot of people, young and old, walk through life with headphones on her ears.
I see them running, walking, biking, driving cars, sitting on the bus, they listen to music (or something else) sometimes even at work.
Why is everyone trying to escape?
What's wrong with listening to what is really around us?
That woman last night in the woods, she doesn't even know what she missed out on. The birds were singing so beautifully and the wind made his own music by flowing through the tree tops.

Listening to music is a fun thing, of course! I do it too. I have some on my iPhone and iPod.
But I like to sit still when I listen. At certain moments and times it can be a wonderful thing to do.
But not in the woods...
It would be a pity to miss
NATURE - LIVE IN CONCERT!

:)

This past week we were trained in first aid and firefighting.
We were given lots of important information about safety equipment and on how to use it.
We got to practice CPR on dolls and safe their lives with the defibrillator.

I just hope I'll never have to use this knowledge on real persons.
And IF I have to do so, I hope I'll be able to keep a cool head and help.




TREVLIG MIDSOMMAR!


♥