The summer solstice is nearly here. It’s the longest day of the year, the first day of summer, and the official kickoff for warm-weather festivities and of course, summer solstice foods. Traditionally, people celebrated the return of light, life, fertility and the potential for a good harvest on the summer solstice.
Ancient solstice celebrations centered around a bonfire – a symbol of the sun – and people around the world still celebrate the arrival of summer with outdoor feasts, singing, dancing and bonfires. I am always fascinated by what rituals and delicacies different cultures use to celebrate when marking the change of seasons and so I have found some of the most interesting Summer Solstice traditions and food from around the world to share with you here. Hopefully this will inspire you to celebrate the sun in your own unique way.
Sweet Summer Nights in Sweden
Known as either Midsummer or Midsommar, the Swedish Summer Solstice is a very important family celebration and most shops and restaurants are closed so people can spend the day with their families.Festivities include a picnic around the quintessential midsommarstång (the decorative maypole), traditional Swedish dress embellished with seasonal flowers and the Små grodorna dance.
Festival attendees can look forward to eating pickled fish and seasonal vegetables for their picnic meals. Swedish solstice meals normally begin with pickled herring, usually at least three types and salmon. The meals are wrapped up with some fresh strawberries, flower picking and playing games in the evening.
Celebrating Sant Joan in Spain
The Spanish are a nation that certainly takes their festivals seriously and the summer solstice is no different. Solstice celebrations consist of street parties, feasts and fireworks in commemoration of St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of Catalonia, whose birthday happens to fall on the solstice. There are said to be three symbols of Sant Joan – fire, water and herbs. Fire symbolises purity, water represents healing and the herbs are symbolic of remedy.
Fire is one thing you will definitely be seeing a lot of if you choose to celebrate this festival in Spain. Since this celebration is associated with fire, the people of Spain will break out the barbeques and throw some botis on to cook. Botifarra (boti for short) is a delicious Catalan sausage, and a staple at any barbecue on the summer solstice. The people of Spain also bake traditional coca, a flat, crunchy type of brioche. Though there are many variations of this delicious dish they all contain a pinch of aniseed, pine nuts and candied fruit.
Summer Sunrise in Stonehenge
Of all the Summer Solstice celebrations, the festival at Stonehenge is probably the most famous. Stonehenge is thought to be positioned in relation to the solstices, making the structure a neolithic calendar of sorts. Thousands of people will gather at this historical landmark as the sun rises on the summer solstice, to watch the rays align perfectly with the Heel Stone and shine right into the center of the circle.
In the UK the summer solstice is meant to be an opportunity to observe the importance of the natural world. This is often represented by the use of flowers. Floral crowns, flower decked maypoles and even edible floral arrangements can be seen on this day. If you are interested in trying out adding edible flowers to your own seasonal celebrations check out this article I wrote on how to use edible flowers: Bright, brilliant, beautiful: 10 edible flowers to use in the kitchen
Celebrating the Solstice Italian Style
Italians are renowned for their festive flare and their summer solstice foods. The word “solstice” itself can be found in ancient Italian culture, from the Latin “solstitium”, meaning “the sun stands still.” In Italian culture, a legend states that the summer solstice is a door that opens and connects two worlds – the real and the supernatural. A magical night where popular traditions are combined with the magic and the art of cooking. After all, what is an Italian celebration without food?
On the eve of the summer solstice it is traditional for Italians to prepare nocino, a liquor made from unripe walnuts, left on the grass to soak up the special light of the summer solstice. The summer months bring a bountiful harvest and the foods served at solstice gatherings mimic the sun. Round, sun-colored fruits like lemons, oranges, peaches and nectarines are the flavour of the day as well as vegetables like yellow squash, corn and tomatoes.
Whether you choose to celebrate the summer solstice or not, we can all agree that this is the perfect time to gather your family and friends and get outside. Use the longest day of the year as an excuse to soak up as much of it as you can. Make flower crowns, eat, drink, dance and celebrate life and most of all have fun!
