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It's that time of the year again in Finland. Midsummer, or Juhannus in Finnish, is a one of the biggest celebrations of the year in Finland. Even though Midsummer is celebrated in some other countries as well, Finland and Sweden celebrate it the most. Old traditions may have faded away throughout the years, but Finns still know how to have a good time.
Midsummer takes place in the middle of June, which is close to summer solstice. This year, the summer solstice occurs on June 21, and Midsummer is celebrated on June 25 and 26. The summer solstice provides beautiful conditions for Midsummer celebrations in Finland. In my hometown, Tampere, the sun rises at 3:40 a.m. and sets at 11:12 p.m. In the northernmost part of Finland, Nuorgam, the sun rises in mid May and doesn't set until the end of July. This phenomenon is called the midnight sun.
The never-ending sunlight attracts Finns, which is why most people leave the city behind and go to their summer cottage. There are over 500,000 summer cottages in Finland, in a country of 5.5 million people. Most of them are by the lake or sea. The 168,000 lakes that Finland has to offer are perfect for celebrating Midsummer with family and friends. The Archipelago Sea and its 20,000 islands are also a beautiful place to visit during this time of the year.
Kokko is a large bonfire that is usually set by the lake during the Midsummer celebrations. The original reason for these bonfires was to scare the demons away. Another ancient tradition is sauna. Finland has over 3 million saunas, which means that there's a sauna for every household. Sauna culture in Finland dates back to the Bronze Age. To be more specific, 1500-900 BCE. Finns often go to sauna during the Midsummer celebrations. The most unique and traditional Finnish sauna is called the smoke sauna. While in the sauna, Finns often use a birch whisk to relax and stimulate the skin.
Throughout the years, Midsummer weddings have also been really popular. This tradition started in the early 1900s, but in the recent years their popularity has decreased. Midsummer magic, on the other hand, is one of the oldest Midsummer traditions. Even though people don't believe in these things anymore, some of the old beliefs are quite interesting. For example, one of the beliefs was that if you run around the biggest rock in the yard seven times while holding a hymnal, you'll see your fiancé at the same rock the following night.
Nowadays, Finnish Midsummer traditions are a little bit different. In addition to turning cities into ghost towns by spending time at their summer cottages, Finns also eat and drink good. New potatoes are always popular in the summer, especially around Midsummer. Popular grill foods are beef, pork, and sausage. Alcoholic beverages, especially vodka, are consumed throughout the two-day celebrations. However, alcohol and summer cottages by the lake don't usually go well together. Multiple people drown every year, which is why this is a huge topic of discussion in the media.
For young people, music festivals are common place to spend the Midsummer. Most of these festivals last for three days and are often sold out. Since hotels also tend to be sold out during music festivals, people often spend their nights in tents. Another popular Midsummer activity is harness racing. Coldblooded Finnhorses gather a large crowd and the Midsummer races are a big deal for people who like to gamble.
Midsummer also marks the start of a four-week paid vacation for many Finns. In addition to this, there's a weeklong paid vacation in the winter. So, since Midsummer is getting closer, it's safe to say that the summer is officially starting in Finland. I'm definitely going to have a good time and take a little break from everything. In case you're celebrating, have a good Juhannus and enjoy your time with family and friends!
EDITOR'S NOTE: Roni Salmenkangas is a student athlete at Ferris State University, majoring in sports communication. For the most part, Roni's stories focus on Finnish culture and people. He is completing his internship from Tampere, Finland.