Midsummer celebrations are very big in the Scandinavian culture, celebrating the longest day of the year and lots of daylight. One of the best places to celebrate in true Scandinavian style here in Los Angeles is at the Vasa Park in Agoura. Click the “Vasa Park” link for more information on Midsummer activities to be held there this Sunday, June 27th.

Located in Triunfo Canyon in Agoura Hills, California, beautiful Vasa Park occupies 24 acres with hills for horseback riding and a lovely little stream. The park was purchased by 7 lodges over 60 years ago.

Here are some facts and history about Midsummer that you might find interesting:

Summer in Sweden is short. It starts showing its face in May and explodes into life in June. The summer has to hurry to get things done before the nights turn cold in September and everything stops growing. At Midsummer, the Swedish summer is a lush green and bursting with chlorophyll, and the nights are scarcely dark at all. In the north, the sun never sets.

Virtually every part of Sweden has its own folk costume. But they are rarely worn except at Midsummer.

The start of summer holidays

Swedes are fairly well attuned to the rhythms of nature. At Midsummer, many begin their five-week annual holidays. Midsummer Eve is celebrated in the countryside — as always — and on the day before, everyone leaves town, everything closes and the streets are suddenly spooky and deserted.

The country’s main thoroughfares, on the other hand, are packed. Queues of cars stretch away into the distance, and at the end of the road, family and friends wait among silver birches in full, shimmering bloom.

Maypoles and dancing

Midsummer is an occasion of large gatherings — and to be honest, many Swedes take advantage of it to fulfill their social obligations so that they can enjoy the rest of their holiday in peace. In many cases, whole families gather to celebrate this traditional high-point of the summer.

Swedes like the world to be well-ordered, so Midsummer Eve is always on a Friday. People often begin the day by picking flowers and making wreaths to place on the maypole, which is a key component in the celebrations.

The maypole is raised in an open spot and traditional ring-dances ensue, to the delight of the children and some of the adults. Teenagers tend to stay out of it and wait for the evening’s more riotous entertainment.

I hope you celebrate in one way or the other. But I suggest you take a nice drive up Pacific Coast Hwy and cut through Kanan. That will take you to Vasa Park, you will love it, your kids will love it too.

Happy Midsummer.