Unlike the other holidays on my Heathen calendar, Midsommar is the only one not specifically mentioned by name in the Ynglinga Saga by Snorri Sturluson. In fact, there is very little evidence suggesting Midsommar is based on ancient pagan customs from Germany and Scandinavia, an idea largely put forward by J. G. Frazer in The Golden Bough, where he states that "Midsummer Day" was Christianized into St. John's Day and that the pagans celebrated this holiday by creating sun charms and holding "...magical ceremonies intended to ensure a proper supply of sunshine for men, animals, and plants." This belief has been further perpetuated throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries with authors adding more and more details to their claims, such as bonfire rituals, sympathetic magic, and the existence of large sun cults. While Frazer's idea that medieval Summer Solstice traditions arose from more ancient Germanic and Scandinavian practices seems plausible, there is simply no evidence to support this. So where did it come from?
Jacob Grimm describes two distinct summer seasons in which fires were lit in his book Deutsche Mythologie. The first took place in the north around Easter, while the second took place in the south around midsummer and included sunnenwende games. Based on the differences between the two festivals, Grimm concluded that the northern tradition was likely older, while the southern tradition was most likely adopted from the church and Italy. Some speculate that the southern tradition arose from Caesar's move north during pre-Christian Rome, while others suggest it arose from Germanic legions returning home from service. Nordic and Germanic literature and mythology seem to support Grimm's claim, as neither tradition has any deities associated specifically with summer nor its solstice. However, there is ample evidence to suggest that winter's defeat was the most important moment of summer, as seen with the other three festivals or blóts. So does this mean the Norse didn't care about the sun? Quite the contrary!
Surviving winter was their paramount concern, as at least 40 days were spent in perpetual night in the high northern latitudes. The sun's return was strongly encouraged and hailed by the three other blóts celebrated by the Norse. Winter Nights or Vetrnætr was a time to celebrate family, ancestors, and the bountiful harvest, a way to give thanks and ensure survival through the winter months. Yule, on the other hand, was a celebration of the days growing longer and the rebirth that was soon to come, while Sígrblót celebrates the actual defeat of winter.
Apart from the known blóts, archaeologists have found sun-disc carvings across Scandinavia, including one featuring a large disc being held over a person's head in apparent triumph (Figure 1) and another depicting a sun wagon (Figure 2). These findings further suggest that the sun's return was important to the Nordic people.
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| Figure 1: Petroglyph from Stora Bracka, Brastad, Bohuslan |
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| Figure 2: Sun Wagon from Stora Bracka, Brastad, Bohuslan |
According to Olaus Magnus, the people of the Arctic regions welcomed "the returning radiance of the sun with special dances" and feasts. His description emphasizes not the abstract significance of summer, however, but the practical significance-- that life becomes easier because food is more plentiful. However, there was no set day for this sort of celebration. Grimm says the day was chosen based on signs such as "the opening of flowers" or "the arrival of birds." This places celebrations most likely in June, when the Vikings returned from their voyages, which would also explain why there would be a large community gathering.
It's not until the late 10th century that these sorts of summer celebrations are given an exact date of June 24th. King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway, in his attempt to remove paganism, set all celebrations to occur on St. John's Eve, thus uniting pagans and Christians into one midsummer festival. This is also the only time we see a midsumarsblót (midsummer sacrifice) mentioned in historical texts. According to Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar 65, this mention of a midsummer sacrifice was not an actual holiday but a threat, as Olaf states he will not sacrifice animals, but instead nobles, if the pagans do not convert. It worked, at least for a time, and Olaf was able to shift the political climate without bloodshed.
As southern traditions continued to travel north, we continue to see evidence of Midsommar-like festivals being held across Scandinavia. These celebrations were marked by the well-known bonfires, communal feasts, games, dancing, drinking, and general revelry. Magnus described such a celebration in Sweden in the 1500s:
". . . the whole people, of both sexes and all ages, regularly gather in crowds in the public open spaces of cities, or on a flat stretch of ground in the fields, and everywhere light great fires for round dances and skipping dances. They repeatedly sing and simulate in dancing the glorious feats of ancient heroes, performed at home, abroad, or anywhere in the world, and also the deeds which famous women, to gain everlasting praise, accomplished from a desire to preserve their chastity. Moreover, in traditional ballads, to the accompaniment of harps and pipes played alternately, they unfold the actions of idle, degenerate noblemen, cruel oppressors, and crude women who have cast out virtue."
Grimm also tells of large wheels being set on fire and rolled down a hill into the Moselle River, which was used to predict future wine harvests. A wheel landing in the water while still burning foretold of a good wine harvest. All in all, the holiday grew into what most modern pagans and witches are familiar with today. Unfortunately, it's not some ancient Viking holiday as some would have you believe, but one that evolved over time through human interactions and cultural exchanges, and our desire to celebrate and hold community.
So if it's not some ancient Nordic holiday, why did I include it in my celebrations? Because my ancestors celebrated it. Not only can my family trace distinct bloodlines back to Vikings who colonized Scotland, but we can also trace more recent ancestors back to Sweden. Modern Swedes celebrate midsummer festivals. While my immediate family didn't hold any specific celebrations growing up, we usually attended festivals held during this time and often had a bonfire and large meal to celebrate summer and the fruits of the earth. Being able to connect with my ancestors in a meaningful way is an important part of my practice, and Midsommar allows me to do just that. Our modern celebrations are just as valid as those celebrated in the ancient past and are often more powerful because they hold more significance to us.
This year (2025), Midsommar takes place on June 20th/21st in the Northern Hemisphere. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post on ways to celebrate Midsommar, my sacrifice suggestions, feast recipes, and altar inspiration! Until then!
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