Midsummer, known as Juhannus in Finnish, is celebrated in Finland at the height of summer in June. It is a national holiday where Finns spend time in summer cottages or by lakes with friends, lighting bonfires, barbecuing, fishing, and boating. Traditional activities include spells for fertility and finding a spouse. Open-air dancing is also popular, with the culture of dance pavilions providing community and romance after the hardship of war.

1. JUHANNUS (MIDSUMMER NIGHT)
JUHANNUS is an ode to light and the nightless night.
It is also a national holiday in Finland and is
celebrated at the height of summer in June.
Finns like to spend their JUHANNUS in a summery
setting in their MÖKKI (cottage) or by the JÄRVI (lake)
with good friends.
Many Finns start their summer holiday on
JUHANNUSAATTO (Midsummer Eve).
Lighting the KOKKO (bonfire) and bathing in the SAUNA
are typical traditions in Midsummer celebrations, as
are GRILLAAMINEN (barbecuing), KALASTAMINEN (fishing)
and VENEILY (boating) as an essential part of enjoying
cottage life.
In the old days, TAIAT (Midsummer spells) were cast, many
of which had to do with hopes of increasing fertility
and finding a future spouse. Midsummer is also a
popular time for HÄÄT (weddings).
Photo by VisitFinland_flickr_CC_BY-NC2.0

2. LAVATANSSIT
OPEN-AIR DANCE
FINNISH CULTURE, ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST, IS FILLED WITH
->MELANKOLIA (MELANCHOLY TONES).
DARK UNDERTONES ARE PRESENT IN MUSIC, IN ISKELMÄ
(POPULAR MUSIC AND HITS), ROKKI (ROCK), AND KANSANMUSIIKKI (FOLK MUSIC).
 The sound of an accordion, guitar and violin echoes across the lake surface, the dark
shadows of the white birch trunks are reflected in the blue water, and the invitation of a
lighted open-air dance pavilion can be heard from far away. A man and woman are
holding each other closely. It is impossible for an outsider to know whether they have
danced together for five minutes or five decades, and whether they will part after the
dance forever, or stay together for the rest of their lives.
 The open-air dance pavilion culture is rooted in Finnish history. Post-war Finland saw the
construction of thousands of open-air dance pavilions across the country. Amidst the
struggle with war reparations, supply shortages, and reconstruction, the dance pavilions
provided a sensual dimension in otherwise weary life.
-> SEE TRANSLATION INTO FINNISH BELOW
Ari Ellert_flickr_CC_BY-NC2.0

3. THE SOUND OF AN ACCORDION, GUITAR AND VIOLIN
ECHOES ACROSS THE LAKE SURFACE,
THE DARK SHADOWS OF THE WHITE BIRCH TRUNKS ARE
REFLECTED IN THE BLUE WATER,
AND THE INVITATION OF A LIGHTED OPEN-AIR DANCE
PAVILION CAN BE HEARD FROM FAR AWAY.
A MAN AND WOMAN ARE HOLDING EACH OTHER
CLOSELY.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR AN OUTSIDER TO KNOW WHETHER
THEY HAVE DANCED TOGETHER FOR FIVE MINUTES OR
FIVE DECADES,
AND WHETHER THEY WILL PART AFTER THE DANCE
FOREVER
OR STAY TOGETHER FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
HAITARIN ÄÄNI, KITARA JA VIULU KAIKUVAT
JÄRVEN VEDENPINNAN HALKI,
VALKOISTEN KOIVUNRUNKOJEN TUMMAT
VARJOT HEIJASTUVAT SINISEEN VETEEN,
JA VALAISTUN LAVATANSSILAVAN KUTSUN
VOI KUULLA KAUKAA.
MIES JA NAINEN PITELEVÄT TOISIAAN
TIUKASTI.
ULKOPUOLISEN ON MAHDOTONTA TIETÄÄ,
OVATKO HE TANSSINEET YHDESSÄ VIISI
MINUUTTIA VAI VIISI VUOSIKYMMENTÄ,
JA AIKOVATKO HE EROTA TANSSIN JÄLKEEN
IKUISIKSI AJOIKSI
VAI PYSYÄ YHDESSÄ LOPPUELÄMÄNSÄ.
Today, -> LAVATANSSIT and -> FESTARIT both gather
people together for the basically same reasons: music,
the magical white nights, and RAKKAUS (love).
HAITARI
KITARA
VIULU
JÄRVI
VESI
KOIVUT
VARJOT
LAVA
KUTSU
MIES
NAINEN
TANSSI
LOPPUELÄMÄ
Javi_CC_by-NC2.0

4. VIDEO CLIP by Toomax
• Describe the MÖKKI (cottage) you see in the picture above.
• Join the Finns in -> the Sauna. What can tell about it?
• What can you tell about the LUONTO (nature)?
Which tree is this?
What is happening here?
By VisitFinland_CC_BY-NC2.0