The party of the summer in Finland, Midsummer... they do celebrate midsummer, San Juan, in Spain but not as big as we do in Finland. In my country midsummer is really THE party of the summer and people plan it for months and talk about it the same amount of time afterwords.. or not, if they behaved badly :) The only similarity we have with Spain is that we do born fires.. In Finland by lakes or sea, in Spain at the beach. The only day of the year its allowed to make open fire at the beaches in Spain.
The real date is the 24th June..but in Finland nowadays celebrations have been moved to a weekend nearby. On Friday, all country closes around noon or 1pm. Its the law that all shops supermarket banks offices.. everything closes at that same time. The previous days are just mad at supermarkets and hypermarkets cuz everyone is buying food like the end of the world is coming now.
The most popular thing to do is to go to a summer cottage by lakes.. that's what most people do. If they don't have one themselves, there is always someone who has who invites friends over...
Many many traditions are still in use during this weekend.. midsummer sauna - a real must!, BBQ -dinner, bornfires.. and lot of booze. Yes. I think its one of the biggest selling days also at the alcohol shops. Also romantic stuff is hanging there still .. at the midsummer night.. its magic. Many versions.. like if you pick 7 different wild herbs and flowers, put them under your pillow that night.. you will see your future husband in your dreams.
The biggest thing about the midsummer magic is the midsummer sun. The sun just doesn't really go down at all... In Helsinki level it does go down for 15mins or something like that.. but in Lappland level, 1000kms north its weeks all daylight 24/7.
I hadn't been in Finland on Midsummer for years and was soooo nice to go spend the weekend with my dear dear dear old friend I've know since highschool. She is half Spanish and her cousin was also there from the Canary Islands. They live in extremely nice place, you would never believe this haven is in Helsinki and only 30mins away from the city centre. Their house is very old Villa with lots of history and is protected by Museum authorities nowadays...brings some rules to everyday life.. like I heard.. no candles inside - they have 2 small boys running and playing like little boys do.. :) Soul and mind really rests in this place and we have extremly nice weekend in peace and nature!
They have this cool cool super cool Jacuzzi called Palju.. I think it was on non stop for 3 days .
kids had so much fun swimming, jumping on the trampoline and running in the nature
As said midsummer sauna is very important.. always starts the evening! This year I skipped it.. yhyy.. Marc was so tired I stayed home with him when others hit the sauna.. and afterwords Im bummed I didnt go! My friends dont have sauna yet so all friends went to have a sauna at neighbours place.. and it had been one awesome place by the sea as well.. next time- in im too!
sauna break
and our sauna IS hot! and we do it naked, of course
After sauna we start fixing dinner.. and this time we had Fafi! omg, Sonias cousin was in kitchen all day before sauna as well.. and wow what he made, as well as everyone brought goodies with them! what a food fiesta! the only thing was... I had forgotten how fast we eat here.. I was only starting when friends were already asking " do u mind if I smoke here" .. I felt bad for Fafi for cooking for hours and we Finns just eat quickly and off we go..- to jacuzzi of course :) Its just not in our culture to sit around dinner table for hours and enjoy eating and company.. in a way I miss that in Spain, long dinners!
This was the best Ensalada Rusa I have ever eaten! so yummy!
Usually... The night of the magic is always cold. It really is, and it rains as long as I can remember.. now we had no rain until some really early morning hours,.. next morning we woke up and some tents were all wet as well as our stuff we had left outside. so no rain in the evening... but it was cold!
the midsummer day breakfast..what could be better than SILLI! yes yes yes!
no bornfires this year.. but I think it was all good :)
Muchas Gracias Guapa!
There is huge difference how to celebrate Midsummer in Finland or the same day party, San Juan in Spain.
This is midsummer in Barcelona..
Nit de Sant Joan.
The party is at the beach..and the party is for adults.. or atleast I dont feel like hanging there with small kids. One thing whats big difference to us in Finland, they shoot fireworks in midsummer.. we do it on New Years Eve, never on midsummer.. never. But then again.. its all light up in the north.. nothing would even look so cool on the sky :) They also jump on the bornfires they make on the beach.. and this party lasts all night.
Until the last standing man..
Estrella Damm is a beer from Barcelona.. they make a tv commercial each year. This is my favorite.. if this San Juan would ever come true instead of this crazyness at the beach..
- Count Me In!
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