Swedish Midsummer celebrations involve flowers, dancing, magic and a sun that never sets.

Swedish Midsummer is usually celebrated in the countryside, which means that on the day before, many leave town.

On Midsummer’s Eve, many shops are closed and the city streets are suddenly spookily deserted.

The country’s main thoroughfares, on the other hand, are normally packed.

Queues of cars stretch away into the distance, and at the end of the road, family and friends wait among silver birches in full, shimmering bloom.

Midsummer is normally an occasion of large gatherings.

Whole families or groups of friends gather to celebrate this traditional high-point of the summer.

People clad a maypole with leaves and flower and raise it in an open spot.

Then, traditional ring-dances ensue, to the delight of the children and some of the adults.

Teenagers tend to stay out of it and wait for the evening’s more riotous entertainment.

To be honest, many Swedes take advantage of Midsummer to fulfil their social obligations so that they can enjoy the rest of their five-week or so summer holiday in peace.

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