Greetings from the Cave,And happy near-summer to you! This month welcomes the long days of sun with the Summer Solstice on June 21st. In Sweden and many other European countries, threads of our pagan roots still run deep and show up in the celebration of Midsommar (Midsummer). Specifically in one of my ancestral homes, Dalarna County, Sweden, Midsommar is still deeply rooted in tradition. Families and communities gather to decorate and raise the midsommarstång, wrapping it in fresh birch leaves, flowers, and greenery. Flower crowns are woven by hand. Fiddles play tunes that have been passed down through generations. People gather around the pole to dance the same songs and dances their grandparents and great-grandparents once danced. One of the things that makes Dalarna so special is that many people still wear their traditional folkdräkter, or folk costumes, during the celebration. These garments are often unique to a particular village or region and have been carefully preserved and passed down through families. Seeing them worn today is a reminder that tradition is not something left in the past. It is something people continue to carry forward. The celebration often lasts all day. Tables are filled with pickled herring, boiled new potatoes topped with dill, strawberries, and foods that mark the arrival of summer. Elders share stories. Children run barefoot through the grass. Neighbors, friends, and family come together in a way that feels both festive and deeply familiar. What touches me most is how alive these traditions remain. They are not preserved behind glass or recreated for tourists. They are still being lived. The songs are still sung. The dances are still danced. The folk costumes are still worn. The flower crowns are still woven. In a world that moves so quickly, there is something powerful about watching a community return year after year to the same rituals, honoring both the season and the generations who came before them. While I didn't get to be in Sweden for Midsommar itself, it was a joy to stand at the base of a midsommarstång and feel the whispers of my ancestors, whose feet surely danced circles around the pole in that very same town square. For the past several summers, I have brought flower crown crafting and Swedish songs to my community here in the Pacific Northwest, a place where so many of us have ancestral ties to the Nordic countries. It's always a joy to witness the moment someone places a flower crown made by their own hands upon their head for the very first time. It feels a bit like being crowned with memory. If you'd like to learn this wholesome, nature-filled handcraft, join me on the evening of Midsommar, Sunday, June 21st, at Westmoreland Park. After we've been crowned and sang a Swedish song together, I'll teach you how to play two beloved Nordic yard games, Kubb and Mölkky. They're surprisingly addictive! This event coincides with Father’s Day so feel free to bring dad along. Full details below. With Warmth,
Ida Cavewoman www.cavesidewellness.com
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