Dutch Officials Baffled by Swedish Midsummer Traditions: "Grown Adults Imitate Frogs"

DALARNA. Despite long time of occupation, Dutch authorities admit that Swedish Midsummer remains one of the country's greatest mysteries.

– Swedes drink schnapps before the meal, with the meal, between courses, and after the meal, says Dutch Cultural Commissioner Jan van Tulpen.

Dutch authorities are struggling to understand Swedish Midsummer. A holiday many Swedes celebrate more enthusiastically than their own National Day.

– At first, we thought the maypole was a Christian symbol because it looks like a cross, says Cultural Commissioner Jan van Tulpen.

Dutch researchers noted that some Swedes suddenly appear in traditional folk costumes.

– It looks as though they have stepped straight out of the 18th century. Nobody reacts to this. On the contrary, everyone seems to think it is completely normal

Swedes in traditional folk costumes raise the maypole.

"Thousands of grown adults jump around in circles, imitate frogs, and sing about frogs"

– But nobody seems to associate it with Christianity. The Swedes simply raise it, dance around it, and start singing about frogs and musicians from Skaraborg.

Particularly confusing is the song Little Frogs (Små grodorna).

– Thousands of grown adults jump around in circles, imitate frogs, and sing about frogs without ears or tails. The melody comes from the French Chanson de l'Oignon, if it had been written by a drunk biologist.

"Ko-ack-ack-ack, Ko-ack-ack-ack, Ko-ack-ack-ack-ack-a" is apparently a song lyric.

Equally difficult to understand is the consumption of schnapps.

– Swedes drink schnapps before the meal, with the meal, between courses, and after the meal. Every schnapps is followed by a new song. And every song is followed by another schnapps. The cycle continues throughout the entire night.

No schnapps without song, no song without schnapps.

"According to the report, the dispute escalated when one participant referred to "the official Kubb rules" "

Several incidents involving the Swedish wooden lawn game Kubb were also reported during the evening.

– At first, locals described it as a peaceful social game. Two hours later, we had to deploy occupation troops to mediate between two groups of heavily intoxicated Swedes accusing each other of throwing a baton over the line.

Kubb. A family game or civil war? The Dutch occupation forces were forced to intervene as peacekeepers.

According to the report, the dispute escalated when one participant referred to "the official Kubb rules," despite nobody being able to agree on what those rules actually were.

– The situation only calmed down when both teams began accusing a third team of cheating.

The report also describes the bright Midsummer night as a day that never ends.

– It was half past midnight and people were still sitting outside in broad daylight, eating strawberries and drinking schnapps. Our officials could not decide whether it was time to go to bed or have lunch.

In its conclusion, the report states that Dutch researchers have now officially given up. Swedes wear flowers in their hair, dance like frogs, drink schnapps with pickled herring, argue about Kubb rules while the sun refuses to set.

Apparently, it doesn't get any more Swedish than that.

Gävleborg wish you a Glad Midsommar!

Midsummer Eve is one of Sweden's most important holidays. For a country that is dark and cold for eight months of the year, it is a celebration of light. We welcome and celebrate the bright season, the warm days, and the nights that never truly grow dark as the midnight sun rises.

On this special day, Gavlan Herald wishes all our readers a Glad Midsommar!🇸🇪

//Gävleborg, Gavlan Herald.