Missed MY MidSommar!! NAAA, NOT THIS TIME...

The post was first published in June 22, 2019. I post here to share the delight that not only did I attend but I actually planned my mid summer. 

None of the friends were around, most of them out of town. I had an invitation to join a friend in another town, but I did not feel like travelling. So I went to the closest place of celebration. 

It was a 12 minute bike ride, half of it through the woods. I packed a sandwich, a banana and an orange, a mat and a padded cushion.  A bottle of Mango Lime. 

But most importantly my cameras and a tripod. Even though I have a gazillion pics of midsummer already.

I chose to go to Alters Herrgård (Alters Manor. Alster is a lake in our town).

Alsters Herrgård, the house that belonged to Gustav Fröding a very famous poet from our town. 

For anyone who wants to visit, CLICK ON THIS LINK, book a free guided tour, come for summer dances and concerts. 

It was a stunningly beautiful day. People of all ages danced around the maypole singing 'små grodarna' the frog song and danced. The best was to see children with their grandparents. 

Here are some pics. At the end of this post, you have links to some old midsummer posts. Enjoy....it is truly a magical time of the year. 

PS: NO MATTER HOW SLOW IT GOES, I WILL NOT ABANDON THIS BLOG. EVEN THOUGH AS YOU ALL KNOW I AM WORKING ON ANOTHER ONE CURRENTLY. THIS ONE REMAINS DEAR. THIS WAS MY TESTING GROUND FOR A DECADE, AND I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL. 

BTW, THIS MONTH ALONE, I GOT 1.52 K HITS. 1.39 FROM SOMEONE IN SINGAPORE....XIE-XIE, DHANYAVAADAM, THANKS....

This is from June 6, 2023. Swedish National Day Celebration

Its a family day

The house that Gustav Fröding used to live in has been turned into an art gallery and a gift shop that sells only hand made materials from local artists.

Summer and flowers are synonymous. I got this one on my walk last week with my neighbour. 

Flowers in the hair, and love in the air....

Floral dresses and wreaths always go together in mid summer

His first midsummer, mommy made sure they matched!

June 22, 2019

So yesterday was midsummer's eve and today is midsummer. I am so tuned into the concept of weekend that I forgot that for sometime now midsummer has been celebrated on fridays. I was lost in finishing a paper that needs to be sent in. And I waste much time on laptop.  My mind jumps somedays from one point to another of all the things that I have to do.

Infact, I have bought a program called rescue time which blocks all internet on my computer.

I realised post 5 pm that it was actually the day of midsummer party. Aaaarrgggh....there is nothing new and usually after it ends one just wonders (its really family holiday).  So, if you have seen it once and have no plans to be with friends, then you have seen it all.

But I had planned to take some fresh video as I am making one of my short films for the YouTube channel.

So instead, I just sat in my own yard, meditated for about ...well two sets of 25 minutes, stared at the flowers and felt somewhat sad.

As I had lost something important.

It is midsummer after all.  I must do something soon to recover from this sadness, because it reminded me that if I had a family --I would have planned something.  I could have called friends, but I didn't only because my plans were to make a video.  In which case one needs to be alone.

Arrggh...not a nice thing to miss midsummer.  Today is the longest day and Sweden is happy in all its glory.

So, I added this above picture.  Stole it from twitter.  @Sweden.se  The day after the crazy party of midsummer, people relax and spend time with family.  

Here are some old entries on midsummer--enjoy!!  And I am going to imagine that I was there all over again.  And console myself that there was nothing new that I missed...and so this is what I drew for you all ......

Magic of Midsummer

Midsummer Midsommar sights in Sweden

Midsummer Signs

Mid Sommar MayPole

Celebrating a Decade: Paskris: Swedish Easter Tradition (4th most popular)

First Published on March 28, 2015--and republished a few times since, here it is, as we approach easter, a post on how easter is celebrated in Sweden 

So, last published on July 31, 2019--this is being published again for two reasons. Because it is time.  Because it is spring and feathers are around, and I do not need a thick coat, and not having gloves or hats on me is not dangerous. 

But also because even though I have been talking to you all in my head, I know that I want to write this next one properly.   

Btw, for the first time I thinking I need to sell my articles to magazines for money.  I mean I write so much.  It must be age, I start to think about 'the time'.  I love this blog.  But I write for other online portals, all free.  And it can take about 3-5 days for a proper article.  I never asked for money.  But now I think I might want to publish where they will pay.....:)) 

(What do you guys think? Will someone be willing to pay me?? :)

Regardless, whoever you all are, stay safe--this virus thing is nothing but toxicity in the air.  I think it is going to die down soon, Very soon. I will connect again soon.

_________________

First published in 2015--last published last year on March 30, 2018--here is the fourth most popular post. Gives a bit of culture and color

First published on March 28, 2015--republished here because its bright, its easter and spring is back..with its bright and yet somehow annoying million watt light!!  Living the magical life!!

Feathers, Colors, Eggs and Birds: Happy Spring

Come Spring, in Sweden you start to hear the birds in the forests and around your house (although funnily enough you hear some throughout the winter--truly swedish birds).feathers on sticks start to be sold in the shops, along with many wreaths made of feathers….

Paskris, or easter twigs (literally easter-rice) is an Easter tradition in Sweden.  The twigs are taken from supple birch trees that are finally enjoying being able to feel the sap in their veins, and are standing erect in affirmation of their own life. 

As, we all know, many of the Christian holidays/celebrations were imposed on pagan celebrations to convert/transform Pagan celebrations to christian celebrations. So, easter is actually a celebration of resurrection of nature from the dead.  Sweden, is one of the few countries, though christianised as kept many of its pagan traditions. 

Swedish Easter Witches---one of Sweden's and parts of Finnland tradition--is a celebrated by dressing young girls as witches and boys as old men.  Some of its traditions are similar to Halloween--as in trick or treat. Girls and boys dressed as Häxa (witch) or Gubbe (old man) go door to door with a  copper kettle (not that common anymore) looking for treats, in exchange for hand drawn paintings. The tradition comes from old belief that witches would fly to a German mountain the weekend before Easter to meet with Satan, and on their way would pick up young children for their meal.  Swedes would light fires to scare them --a practice still prevalent today to light bonfires--and dress young children as witches and old men to confuse the witches. Every easter there are also Påsk (easter) parades, where children, dressed up in costumes, accompanied by parents and a loud band, announce the arrival of spring.  The above pictures were taken at the parade last year. 

Dressing the City: Happy Advent

 I am still  in Gothenburg  and two weeks ago the city starting getting ready already.

Dec 1 is advent and all the lights must go up before that.

Here are a few shots...enjoy...

Just outside of the apartment where I live

The bridge I take to get to the tram station...Vågmastareplatsen....

                                                        In downtown...

This is how dark it is at 4 pm, and lights look a little dreamy...it has to be dark before you can enjoy the lights....

Påsk Lilja

 

Påsk, is Swedish word for Easter (Pasqua in Spanish). Lilja is Swedish word for lilly.

So Daffodils are Påsk Lillies....Here are some other posts about them ....

One of the first posts from April 2010. Pics taken in Sweden

One on Påsk Ris from 2019

Enjoy Your Easter!

Gott Nytt År, Och God Försättning

 That is how you wish someone a very happy new year.  Gott, means, nice, and delicious........

So, it means have a great new year, and good continuation. I love that expression. 

I went to my neighbours house and they were playing this movie.....such a winter mood...had to get a clip...

My neighbour has a big collection of snow globes

She also always has candles lit, which I used to as well....although this season has been crazy...

Hmmmmm...ginger bread cookies and candy cane....larger than life, what else can spell holiday season_

I got gifts too, my friend Ann got me two handmade gifts from a Karlstad artist.  Beautiful style gloves and a ceramic cow....I will get pictures of them here next time...

Wishing you all a very happy new year and good continuation....

En Riktigt God Jul: A Really Merry Christmas

 Hi Folks, I will write the explanations later, but for now, enjoy these. Went to visit my neighbour and her house was lit up......really looked like Christmas!!