Midsummer Eve (2nd)

There are usually two midsummers in Sweden. The first one (21 June) is the natural (real) midsummer, the solstice, longest day, shortest night, etc. The second one, when everyone celebrates, is the closest weekend to the solstice. So the parties, barbecues, raising the midsummer pole, dancing round the same, are all happening today, the "official" Midsummer Eve. I suspect this is to avoid having to have a bank holiday that 5 years out of 7 would fall on a week day, and two days don't make so much difference...
So here is a Midsummer Eve photo, taken at 23:35, as midnight approaches, with the white nights at their (almost) lightest.
The extra shows the celebrations at the county museum today.
The Midsummer Pole, clad in green leaves, is on the right of the picture. The church bell tower in timber is the large building you can see. Plenty of picnics, family gatherings, and festive clothes, and an inspiring mix of different ages and nationalities are here. The weather was very cooperative being warm and sunny but with a fresh breeze blowing by so it never got oppresively hot.
Our afternoon and evening were spent with Ruth and Mikael eating a fine dinner of pickled herring, salmon, potatoes, salad and other bits and pieces.
A good day, marred slightly by Jan tripping and falling heavily as we walked to our car. Perhaps a black eye tomorrow? (No alcohol was involved!)

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