What should I eat during Sweden’s midsummer celebrations?
After an afternoon of amphibian-inspired dancing, it’s little wonder that Swedish midsummer celebrations involve a fair bit of food. And the three-course supper is arguably the main event of the day - at once tasty, traditional and practical, given that revellers may need to line their stomachs ahead of drinking and dancing into the small hours (in the name of national customs, of course).
The feast kicks-off with a starter of multiple kinds of herring served with crème fraiche, fresh dill and new potatoes. This is usually followed by cuts of beef, chicken and lamb, or grilled salmon, served with tomato salad and a tangy smoked mayonnaise.
To finish things off, celebrants tuck into juicy fresh strawberries (the first of the season) topped with cream. This midsummer meal is accompanied by cold beer and spiced schnapps, with every refill marked by an outbreak of uproarious singing.
What else should I do during Sweden’s midsummer celebrations?
Swim by the light of the midnight sun
After a day of dancing, drinking and feasting, Sweden’s unforgettable midsummer celebrations are usually capped off with a dip in a lake, the sea or, if you're in the north, a ski in the midnight-sun, with schnapps-fuelled sing-alongs still in full flow.