Our week started out with a transfer and ended with a traditional Swedish celebration--Midsommar!
With our visas coming in more slowly, we only got our 3 missionaries who were due to come in 6 weeks ago, and we sent 3 home. As we had dinner with the departing missionaries, I asked what was one of the most important things they learned in the last two years. One elder said, "How real the gospel is--what I mean is how it affects people's lives. Before I came out I knew there were good things about the gospel, but I never really experienced it in action, changing people's lives like I have experienced here. It is real. It really helps people."
The next morning we stayed at the airport with one missionary to meet his mother. His parents were delayed in arriving. (They had expected to arrive the day before.) His anxious mom was able to get a flight that came in around 10:30 AM. Since we were at the airport at 7:30 AM saying goodbye to another missionary, this young man decided to stay to meet his mom. (His dad had to wait for a later flight.) What an exciting moment that was!
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| Most missionaries are met by their parents, not the other way around! |
Friday morning we packed up and headed to the Dalarna region of Sweden for Midsommar (midsummer). Although Midsommar is celebrated throughout Sweden, Dalarna originated the celebration. We (and the Youngbergs) joined in with the temple missionaries, escorted by the Stake Patriarch, Bruno Klarin. Being with him added a deeper level of Swedish experience and made the weekend especially wonderful!
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| Strawberries are an essential food for Midsommar celebrations. This cute strawberry stand, in a grocery store parking lot, had a line of at least 20 people. You can tell from the empty crates that they had already had a busy day! This was 12:30! |
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| At the Ekelund's home, with Sister Ekelund in traditional dress from the town where she grew up. (Men and women in the Dalarna province wear their traditional dress from their specific towns. Each is unique and beautiful.) The Ekelunds graciously hosted us for a dinner in their home. |
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| The Swedish flag can only be flown on homes for certain holidays. Midsommar is one. This was flying at the Ekelunds. I asked why the little US flag was flying. "For You!" was the answer! |
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| Ekelund's home in Leksand. The main part of the home (center and left) was built in 1870. The original part of the house to the right, behind the tree, is comprised of the dining room and two loft rooms, was built in 1614! |
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| Our dinner: meatballs, gravy, boiled "fresh" potatoes ( the first harvest--another must for Midsommar), salad, breads, cheese, sill (herring) w/ fresh sour cream and chives. For dessert, a delicious yellow cake with strawberry jam between layers smothered in whipped cream and generously decorated with small fresh Swedish strawberries--heavenly! |
At 7:00 the festivities in Leksand began.
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| Three boats came down the river, as they have done for hundreds of years, with everyone in traditional dress. One boat had fiddlers, another singers, and the other were townspeople. |
I didn't think to video the musicians, but I did catch the singers. Unfortunately, this was the last boat and people were starting to move toward the bridge, talking...
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| Could you resist taking this picture? (Dad look away just as I snapped the picture--oh well.) |
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| She was standing in front of me and I asked for a picture. She lives in Stockholm but grew up here so returned for the festivities. I love the floral crowns! So many people wear them; many are made of just wildflowers. They make everyone smile! |
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| The boats docked on the opposite side of the river and the people paraded across the bridge, with the crowd joining them as they passed. |
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Part of the parade.
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We joined the throng and found our way to the "bowl" about 1/2 kilometer up the street where the crowd of about 20,000 gathered. Young and old, this is a holiday for everyone! This was a dream being here...colorful, intricately designed traditional costumes, lace, pom-poms and tassels, singing and fiddling, dancing, pulled us into the celebration. Everyone sat attentively to the choir, musicians and dancers performing as the maypole was raised, inches at a time, it seemed. But once it was up, it was impossible to sit still! The crowd rushed together, grabbing hands and forming circles, singing and dancing to beloved songs, like "Green Frogs." I loved how the traditions are embraced by all ages. It was especially fun to see the people in front of us create their own family circle and dance.
(I tried to include a video here, but it is too large. John is going to try to put it on Facebook.)
Saturday morning we did a little sightseeing around Lake Siljan. Our last stop was the town of Mora, where we toured Anders Zorn's home and museum. The world famous Swedish artist and his wife, Emma, were philanthropists to the town of Mora, reviving traditions like midsommar celebrations, building a cultural environment in the town, and establishing an orphanage and library. Their home, which he designed was fascinating. It displays many early technological inventions like a refrigerator, vacuum, hot water heater. But the real attraction was the beauty, design and timber work. The upstairs drawing room had a Viking theme with tapestried walls...amazing! (No pictures were allowed unfortunately.)
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| Anders and Emma Zorn's home. The peaked roof on the right is the location of the splendid Viking room. |
We stayed at a very clean and comfortable hostel. After dinner, while John was watching the World Cup, I walked down to the nearby lake.
I returned just in time to see hear the devastating last 5 seconds of the game. The Swedes quickly and quietly left the television for their rooms. Earlier in the week we had seen this display of Snickers bars. Maybe they portended the sad result...
At church this morning, these sisters proudly wore their traditional dress.
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| This sister is wearing her Finnish dress. (Finland also celebrates Midsommar, but Norway does not.) |
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| The Relief Society President and Sister Ekelund. I wish you could see the detailed embroidered work on the purple hat and the red cap and black skirt...exquisite! |
So, Happy Midsummer to you! Just as the days will be getting shorter, so is our time in Sweden. We have 8 weeks to go--providing our replacements get their visas! Next week Kim and her family arrive 😊, so I won't be posting again for a couple of weeks.
