Happy Midsummer's Day! Photo

Photographer’s Note

First of all, varma Midsommar hälsningar - Happy Midsummer's Day - to those who celebrate Midsommar! :)

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This is - raising the maypole on Midsummer Day, somewhere near Falun.

It took those guys rather a long time to raise this pole - I bet it was very heavy!

Sorry! this is a scanned photo, and I can't post a better quality image; and this is the only photo of raising the maypole (and of whatever related to Midsummer in general) which I have in my photoarchive.

So you can consider it more as a documentary rather than an artistic photo.
This photo is from my "family album" and, like many others, was not meant to be posted for some reasons.

Anyway, I decided to post this photo on TE because it seems to me that on TE there are not many photos dedicated to this old Scandinavian tradition.

I can't remember the exact place, either: we came there in a car, and I was a guest of a Swedish family living in Falun, and they took me there - for fun!

I still can't understand why I took only several photos all of which (except this one) show myself and those with whom I was there - in front of the maypole!:((

They say: it always rains or at least drizzles for a while in Sweden on Midsummer Day...
...and while we were there watching the ceremony it really started to drizzle a bit by the end of it! :)

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In 2009 19-25 June is the Midsummer celebrations in Sweden and in many other countries which have Midsummer traditions.
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"Midsummer Day (Midsommardagen) was originally celebrated on 24 June to commemorate John the Baptist. In 1953, it was moved to the nearest Saturday.
In agrarian times, Midsummer celebrations in Sweden were held to welcome summertime and the season of fertility."

"Swedes like the world to be well-ordered, so Midsummer Eve is always a Friday."
- Without doubt ;-)

"The maypole is raised in an open spot and traditional ring-dances ensue."
- YES! I myself even took part in this dance around the pole after it was risen at last - I was invited by my hosts ;) And it was funny! LOL

"The traditional accompaniment is a cold beer and schnapps, preferably spiced."
- Oh yes!!
and also.... it's a strawberry & ice-cream "time"!

Sources: sweden.se + my own thoughts and remembrances :)

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In the Workshop: two other photos related to Midsummer celebrations but taken in 2008 in Skansen, in Stockholm.

PP work: very slight levels and shadows adjustment; cloning out the digital datestamp; sharpening.

bukitgolfb301, Vitaly, mafegan, serp2000, Kielia has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jplebrun (16768) 2009-06-19 10:17

Bonjour Elena
elle est très belle cette photo scanné, les couleurs sont joviales et transmet bien l'idée de la fête en cours.
Amitiés
Jean-Pierre

saxo042 (15428) 2009-06-19 11:40

Hi Elena,
A very fine midsummer picture, scanned or not, still showing some of the colours of folklore that always will be there. A fine note about the Swedish traditions, but you forgot one thing, The Herring! An absolute must at midsummer (and Christmas and Easter and many other times of the year...). I hope you had the chance to have the traditional meal; herring, new potatoes, sour cream and chives! This is the essential meal! However, a very nice picture, although that flag looks a bit suspicious...
Best midsummer regards
Gunnar

bukitgolfb301 (4556) 2009-06-19 15:55

Hello my dear Elena

Splendid documentary photo, very useful according to the TE policy. I never know "Happy Midsummer's Day", even though I studied world history and geography in high school and University hardly, this is the first time.

Warm color tone and more comfortable framework indeed.
Thanks for sharing and best regards,

Takero

hispic (7399) 2009-06-19 19:53

Hey Elena,
People enjoying Midsummer's Day have been vividly captured though the tip of the pole is out of the frame. Green of the lawn is very beautiful, the shadow on it works well to emphasise luminous impression of the middle.
It seems you have had a hard time to scan this image. I also was irritable in scanning before, but a recent scanner blows off the the hardship of old times, and allows to get clear image very easier.
Have a nice weekend! Hisashi

AKITA (5220) 2009-06-19 23:39

dear Elena,
a very interesting old Scandinavian tradition,
in Japan also we have "onbashira-matsuri"(big wooden pole festival), it looks very similar with this raising the maypole festival.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onbashira
anyway this colorful people under summer clear light are very joyfully captured.
thank you for your precious presentation.
Akihisa

Vitaly (501) 2009-06-20 0:27

Hi,Elena!
You captured old scandinavian holiday very colourfully.
Поздравляю с днём летнего солнцестояния, хотя лето у нас никак не наступит. Всё время дожди и холод.
Удачи и хорошего настроения.
Vitaly

paololg (13492) 2009-06-20 3:28

Ciao dear Elena,
compliments for the good quality of the digitization! Interesting image that shows us in pleasant way this typically Scandinavian party. Excellent work, BRAVA!
Ciao, have a nice week end!
Paolo

mauro61 (15112) 2009-06-20 7:45

ciao Elena,
anche se passata allo scanner la foto mantiene intatta la bellezza del posto e rende partecipi dell'evento.
Ottima l'atmosfera che trasmetti,
saluti
maurizio

holmertz (9484) 2009-06-20 12:50

Hej Elena,
Thanks for Midsummer's greetings. I had a pleasant time with some friends in their new summer house north of Stockholm, in the very traditional Roslagen area (from where the word Russia is supposed to be derived). No dancing around the pole, but a lot of herrings of different kinds and of course the very essential ice-cold "snaps".
The slightly faded colours of this scan gives the picture an old time atmosphere that suits the motif very well. It is almost like watching a hand-painted photo from the 1950's!
Hälsningar,
Gert

mafegan (4093) 2009-06-21 0:14

Hello elena
Not such a bad scan - although there is a little bit of fungi/dust in the sky area. The colours are good and the subject matter makes this a most worthwhile post. Your accompaning notes are excellent. Tfs, Marlene

serp2000 (9305) 2009-06-21 5:17

Hello, Helen,
Good scan shot, very interesting note.
Хорошо, когда традиции чтут.Интересное архивное фото, пришла мысль, что тоже не плохо бы альбомы перетряхнуть.
Удачной новой недели!
Сергей

ellelloo (4729) 2009-06-21 12:00

Hello Elena,
Thanks for your nice Midsummer day greeting with this photo. The scan result is not that bad at all. The photo describes very well the old Swedish Midsummer tradition, also with the help of the WS photos. The tradition to raise the maypole exists also in those places in Finland, which have the majority of Swedish speaking population, like Åland.
Greetings,
Lasse

siamesa (12643) 2009-06-21 13:08

Hello Elena
First I want to thank for your words in my last post. After this time I'm here again to see the beautiful pictures like this.
Regards
Maria

scroller (2883) 2009-06-22 13:19

Hej Elena,
The heart of all swedish midsummer celebrations...Dalecarlia...
..and what a lovely water tower ;).
Hälsningar
/Stefan

mortijo (12084) 2009-06-22 14:54

Excellent scan with nice vivid colors. I celebrated mid-summer too, since it was my birthday, and a very special one at that. I celebrated my 70th birthday with family and friends. A memorable and happy day.
Regards
John

Kielia (8367) 2009-06-24 8:54

Hi Elena,
this is a very nice note accompanying this charming impression of an old Scandinavian tradition. I realized that you also noticed that Stefan (Scroller) had posted a similar impression of this event. This is coincidence! The colors are very pleasant and your excellent POV gives a good idea of what this event is about. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

emjleclercq (14197) 2009-07-27 13:13

A very intresting scene. I have seen some of these "maypoles" both in Finland and in Sweden, but after they have been erected. Here you were in the right place and at the right moment. Perhaps a little lack of sharpness though.

All the best,

Emmanuel