Scandinavian traditions come alive at Rockford’s Midsomer festival

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockfordians came together to celebrate the summer solstice at the Swedish Historical Society’s Midsomer Festival on Saturday.

It’s really beautiful to see people here celebrating this holiday that’s been around for so long and especially in the Rockford area,” said Event Coordinator Amy Ekberg. “We have so many people that have strong Swedish heritage here in Rockford. And so this is a great day to celebrate that or to learn a little bit about the culture, and what better day to celebrate summer than a day like today.”

Ekberg said the holiday dates back to ancient times across Europe. In Sweden, the celebration of summer is one of the country’s most important holidays.

“It’s celebrated all across Scandinavia for centuries. It’s been going on in Rockford for decades,” Ekberg explained. “So we have lots of longstanding traditions, and over the years the festival has looked a little bit different. But, there’s always been the tradition of dancers, music, flower crowns, food, beer, and then the maypole, of course.”

The maypole symbolizes health, fertility and good fortune as the summer season approaches in ancient cultures.

One eventgoer said, despite not being Swedish, experiencing other cultures is what brought him to the celebration.

It’s my first time being here. I just enjoy different cultures,” said Jose Lopez. “So, it’s just fun being around the different type of atmosphere. We all live different lives at the end of the day, and different types of culture.”

This is a sentiment that the historical society shares with eventgoers.

“It’s so much fun to learn about other people’s heritage and culture,” said Ekberg. “So, you absolutely do not have to be Scandinavian to celebrate with us. But some of the cultural values that different cultures share are great for anyone to learn from.”