One of the things I learnt about Swedish people in the three years that I lived there, is that they really know how to really enjoy the summertime.
In a country that is cold and dark for much of the year, celebrating the sun is of the utmost importance. So come June, tens of thousands of Swedes abandon towns and cities and head to the coastal islands, inland lakes, vast boreal forests and glaciated mountains, for weeks of rest and relaxation.

Dreaming of lazy summer afternoons on the banks of Lake Mälaren in Sweden.
And it is not uncommon to find everything shut down for an entire month, usually in July, while everybody takes their “industerial vactation”.
But it is not just the relaxing, it is the celebrations that come with summer which, like the summer daylight hours in Sweden, seem never ending.
- Leon – Wild swimming in the lake at Domarudden near Åkersberga.
- Frida, Leon and Lottie – Wild swimming in the lake at Domarudden near Åkersberga.
- Lottie and Frida – Wild swimming in the lake at Domarudden near Åkersberga.
The celebrations start with Valborg (Walpurgis Night) on April 30th, where everybody gathers outside to ignite hazardously large bonfires, sing songs and greet Spring.
People can really let their hair down as the following day is a public holiday, May Day, celebrated by the Swedish labour movement with demonstrations and political speeches. Since Ascension Day, occurs on a Thursday, the subsequent Friday is known as klämdag, “squeezed day”, and is also taken off from work by many Swedish people. Next comes Swedish National Day on June 6th, also known as the Day of the Swedish Flag – and yes another holiday.
The most important event for the Swedish calendar is Midsummer (or midsommar). Pickled herring, boiled new potatoes with fresh dill, soured cream and chives, salmon and the first strawberries for the summer for dessert all washed down with brännvin. After eating all this, if you are up to it, there is dancing round the maypole and yet more singing (and drinking too).
- All aboard the Dalarna Horse for some Midsummer fun at Skansen in Stockholm
- Enjoying a Midsummer picnic in Järfälla, Stockholm
- Leon, Frida and Lottie wearing their midsummer laurel crowns at Skansen in Stockholm.
Kräftpremiär is a crayfish party, held in early August, and is the last of the traditional summertime festivals.
- Crayfish on sale at Smögen fish market in Bohuslän, Sweden
- Crayfish and Elderflower cordial the perfect summer meal.
- Prawns on sale at Smögen fish market in Bohuslän, Sweden
A month off work, fantastic fresh food, wild swimming, lazing around in the sun and all-day (and sometimes all-night) parties… I think I may be on the next flight back – Hej då.

Ali and family under the blossom trees in Kungsträdgården, in Stockholm, Sweden
A few of my favourite photographs and sketches from Sweden in the summertime
- Yellow flowers and blue skies in Bohuslän, Sweden
- Under the blossom Trees in Kungsträdgården, Stockholm – from my Sweden sketchbook.
- Summer along Åkers Canal in Åkersberga, Sweden
- Silver Birch Trees on the banks of Åkers Canal in Åkersberga, Sweden.
- Alliums on the banks of Åkers Canal
- Forest at Görvälns naturreservat near Stockholm from my Sweden Sketchbook
- A double rainbow over the Saltsjön in Stockholm, Sweden
lenalimhamn January 12, 2017
Ha! Sååå sant! Sooo true!
alidunnell January 12, 2017
You guys really over there in Sweden really have got a lot of things right!
thefamilynichols January 12, 2017
Reblogged this on thefamilynichols and commented:
http://CashForInvite.com/?ref=115984
thefamilynichols January 12, 2017
Thanks for your support and you keep up the good work.
lifetimejourney2017 January 13, 2017
please come to my country India, we celebrate each moment of life.
alidunnell January 13, 2017
I love India and have been there on two occasions, spending altogether about 5 months travelleling round the country. I was lucky enough to spend Diwali there and Christmas and think it is a fascinating country. I would love to go back again. Ali
lifetimejourney2017 January 14, 2017
So you were in India at best time of the year. 🙂
alidunnell January 14, 2017
🙂
Baraka M January 13, 2017
Lovely Art. Do you have any tips for aspiring blogger artists???
alidunnell January 14, 2017
Hi Baraka. The best thing I can suggest you do if to post regularly and also like other people’s work. Also be sure to tag your work and make sure you enjoy your projects. Ali
bloger anyar January 15, 2017
Hi friend,thnks you for following my blog,,,succes always for you…
alidunnell January 15, 2017
Thank you
Shikha Chandel January 18, 2017
Amazing artwork. I would love to grab some quick tips from you to learn a bit of this fascinating art.
alidunnell January 20, 2017
Hi Shikha. The best advice I can give is to always have a camera or a pen and paper on you. To continually keep a record of your art work and most importantly, to enjoy art! Ali
Shikha Chandel January 20, 2017
Great advice. Thank you.
Shikha Chandel January 18, 2017
Next time you plan to visit India, there is a place in Himachal Pradesh, Bir Billing, a paragliding site, maybe you can cover some of its beauty in your work. ✌️
alidunnell January 20, 2017
I shall have to add it to my list of places to visit. Ali
Shikha Chandel January 20, 2017
That will be great. 👍
memyselfruby January 25, 2017
This is so interesting!
alidunnell January 26, 2017
Thanks. It really is a great place to visit or live and work in. Ali
countdowntofridayblog May 26, 2018
That bonfire is huge! I feel like if I lived in Sweden I would be taking part in all of the summer festivities as well. I’m also a big seafood lover, so yum!
alidunnell May 28, 2018 — Post Author
The bonfire was absolutely massive… an arsonists dream, but as a mum of three small children at the time, a bit scary! Sweden is perfect for summer and if you love seafood then you must go, especially for the Crayfish celebration! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Emma May 27, 2018
Northern Europeans definitely appreciate summer more than the mediterraneans do – I do kind of miss northern summers, where everyone wants to be outside all the time rather than diving inside to find the air conditioning at the first possible opportunity! Nice sketches too!!
alidunnell May 28, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks for you comment Emma and the compliments about my sketches… whereabouts are you from?
Eva May 28, 2018
It’s always interesting to read impressions on Swedish ways of life from other expats in Sweden. Getting such summers is the biggest reward for enduring those endless dark winters. Almost four years since I moved to Sweden I started to appreciate the dark month, though. I like the coziness that builds up in every house and I usually just dive in hard work so I don’t mind the lack of sunlight. This makes summer lazying around even more rewarding!
alidunnell May 29, 2018 — Post Author
Hi Eva, thanks so much for commenting. I have actually been away from northern Europe for four years now, living in East Africa, where the daylight hours are the same all year round, and although you get the rainy and dry season the temperature is pretty similar all year round too. I am most definitely craving the seasonal change… both the cold dark winters and the endless summers 🙂
Cliodhna Ryan May 29, 2018
I only heard of Swedish midsummer since moving to Tanzania and meeting so many Swedish people. Living so close to the equator where the days are always pretty much the same length has given me a new appreciation for European summer. I’ll be saving this post for when I return to Europe!
alidunnell May 30, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks Cliodha 🙂
Emma Bragginton August 3, 2018
Fascinating descriptions and artwork. I am from the UK, so not that far away in general terms although our culture’s vary so much. It is somewhere I would love to visit and knowing there are so many celebrations in midsummer I think that would be a great time to go!
alidunnell August 6, 2018 — Post Author
Hi Emma – I am actually from the UK too, but have decided to settle in Sweden… I have three children and Sweden really puts kids at the front of society… also Stockholm is such a great city to live in. Saying that, a big part of me still misses England too 🙂