Today’s Doodle commemorates one of the oldest and most important holidays in Sweden: Midsommar (Midsummer). In a country where winter can bring just hours of light each day—if that—it’s no surprise that Swedes pull out all the stops for this celebration of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
Friends and family traditionally begin the day’s festivities with dance and song around the Midsommarstången (Midsummer maypole), a massive pole decorated in garlands and flowers, as depicted in today’s Doodle artwork. With flower wreaths on their heads, revelers may sing one of the most popular songs of Midsummer: “Små grodorna” (“The Little Frogs”). To join in the fun, simply hop around the maypole like a frog and sing along to lyrics like, “The small frogs, the small frogs, are funny to look at!”
All that jumping can work up quite an appetite, which is traditionally satiated with a classic Midsummer meal. The menu typically includes Swedish favorites like inlagd sill (pickled herring), snaps (Swedish liquor) , and knäckebröd (crisp bread), all finished off with the iconic desert of jordgubbstårta (strawberry cake).
Glad Midsommar! HOP-py Midsummer!
Early draft of the Doodle
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