Friday, Midsommer’s Eve

Thursday was a long drive from Stockholm to Umea.  (A Swede would know it is pronounced “oo-mee-oh” because of the mark above the 'a' that my computer can do, but the user doesn’t know how to.  Besides den, der iss no use for dat ting ven vee talk anyvay.)  But then, it is a long way.  We did not care!  We arrived with plenty of energy left to visit and talk smart.  I could only imagine the generation older htan us doing the same and us wondering what was so compelling!

The next morning, after a nice breakfast, it was off to Midsommer!  We went to a beautiful little local park where there was a little stage area by the Maypole.  Hmmm.  I don’t remember if a Maypole has a Midsommer-appropriate name. 

All the things you have imagined about Midsommer in Northern Sweden are true!  The people are all naked, dancing and cavorting around the Maypole.  It was really fun!  Oh, I see rereading that paragraph, I said “naked.”  I meant naked under their clothes.  Absolutely true!

There were two funny characters doing Swedish folk songs for the kids and some were recognizable like Itsy-Bitsy Spider (not the Little Richard version, for sure) and Hokey Pokey (renamed Honky Tonk – probably couldn’t satisfactorily translate “pokey”) and London Bridge is Falling Down (presumably the Swedes don’t care if the LB falls any more than American kids do).  Of course we sang along, just not loud enough so anyone would hear us.  Chuck and Jill made a nice Midsommer crown with the greens that had been provided for the kids.  I just pushed a little blonde haired girl down and took hers.  Was she mad!  Her dad was mad, but I yust pointed to da little voman and sed da first ting I could tink uff, “Jambo, asante sana!”  He stared at me blankly and pulled the little girl away, muttering something.  Only later did I realize I had said, “Hi. Thank you very much,” in Swahili.  But I tink he left ven bote uff da Norske Princessses stepped in.  I vass so scared, dey bote looked like Beach Angels!  He vass more scared so ran away!

We watched a group of Swedish folk dancers in regional garb.  Irene described them for us.  Heini and Irene used to do the same dancing.

Tina Koppelmen and partner Peter arrived at the celebration with Isabella.  Jonathon, 17, was off by himself, but after asserting his independence, appeared later at Mormor’s and Morfar’s house for dinner.  

We had a lunch prepared by Tina and Irene with help from Heini.  It sprinkled off and on, but we didn’t care!  We were having a great time.  We toured a lumber mill and marveled at the ingenuity.

At home, we all had a great time visiting, including the kids.  I am not sure if it ever did get dark, but it certainly wasn’t dark when we went to be after midnight.