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Celebrate summer like no other

Hi, Reader, Midsummer is a magical time of the year here in the North. The Midsummer Day, the summer solstice, is the longest in the year. Just a bit higher up North, there are "nightless nights" for the sun doesn't set at all.

The amount of light at the moment is so crazy, at 10 pm there is light like at noon, which makes staying in balance naturally so much more difficult when you would want to be up all night with the sun!

Tomorrow starts the weekend when all the Finns flee to the summer cottages to celebrate Midsummer, juhannus, the celebration of light, life, friends, and food.

To summarise: this is the best time of the year.

Really.

You don't need to be in the Nordic Countries to make a perfect summer party to celebrate the light and life yourself.

Here are some fun natural lifestyle inspirations for your summer gatherings, the Nordic Midsummer style:

Tie a Midsummer flower wreath

Use what flowers you can find in the wild and tie them together.

A simple wreath made with dandelions, or other big flowers can be tied just by using the flowers themselves. If you have enough dandelions, you can even make dandelion honey on the same day!

For more festive flower crowns, tie a branch wreath base, and then attach the wild flowers on it with florist wire.

Do Midsummer charms

Collect seven flowers to predict your future husband. One of the most whimsical Midsummer charms I know for unmarried girls.

Basically, you need seven different wild flowers (not the ones you or your neighbour have grown in the garden!), tie them with a beautiful silk ribbon, and hide under the pillow to see your future husband in your dreams that magical Midsummer night.

It's not a get-married-fast charm, I warn you.

We did it every summer with my sisters, and we ran outside in white nightgowns or pyjamas with the beautiful evening light to find those seven flowers to stash under the pillow.

Light a bonfire to dance around it

Making a bonfire is to scare off the evil spirits.

The more you danced wildly around the bonfire, the more the devil got scared and did not come.

Amazing and so simple.

Build a bonfire next to the beach, or if it sounds too wild (or there is a forest fire warning), light a bunch of lanterns in the garden to celebrate the light in a more moderate way.

Enjoy the seasonal harvest

Dig up some fresh new potatoes (you know, the tiny yummy ones), boil them, sprinkle some dill on top, and serve them with melting butter.

Enjoy the homemade rhubarb juice, rhubarb pie, or blueberry pie. Depending on what is in season in your area.

Delicious stinging nettle pancakes are delightful with raspberry jam and are a definite summer treat!

Roast bread and vegetables on the grill and enjoy with some wood sorrel pesto or chive cream cheese.

Cool down and chill

And lastly, whip up some refreshing drinks for the heat of the summer.

Try iced mint tea, iced coffee, or a simple rooibos cooler to enjoy.

If you want to mix some more Moroccan spiced coffee mocktail (or cocktail) might be your thing.

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Every day makes a difference. ♡

Sonja

PS. If you want to know more about Midsummer traditions and charms, you can discover more here, and if you want to know more about the Nordic Lifestyle habits to balance life, you can read all about them here.

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