I den svenska bubblan

Om midsommarfirande och svenskhet på Mallorca

Författare

• Susanne Nylund Skog Institutet för språk och folkminnen

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37447/bk.147353

Nyckelord:

midsommarfirande, tradition, immateriellt kulturarv, svenskhet, midsummer celebration, cultural heritage, Swedishness

Abstract

Around the world, John the Baptist's Day is celebrated, such as St. John in Ireland, St. Hans in Norway, and San Juan in Spain (Sant Joan in Catalan) and midsummer in Sweden. This article focuses on how people who identify as Swedish and live wholly or partially in Mallorca celebrate Midsummer and the local tradition of Sant Joan. Do they integrate the traditions, or do they keep them separate? Which elements do they consider important, and which are less significant? How are these linked to Sweden and Swedishness?

The article is based on material collected during fieldwork in Mallorca in June 2023, as well as on material from folklore archives and websites describing Midsummer and Sant Joan celebrations.

In the article, tradition is considered a process of interpretation, where meaning is assigned in the present by referencing the past. The concept of tradition is combined with the concept of social positioning, which draws attention to Swedishness as a position that can be assumed by (and assigned to) some and not others.

For Swedes living in Mallorca who celebrate Midsummer, the common denominator is the food they eat and the fact that they do so together with other Swedes. If children are involved in the Midsummer celebration, additional elements are often included, such as a maypole decorated with leaves and flowers, flower crowns, strawberries, and traditional dances.

Swedes living in Mallorca seem to rarely participate in the local Sant Joan celebrations, even though this tradition is one of the most important on the island. A comparison between Midsummer and Sant Joan reveals that the traditions share several similar elements, which could easily be combined into a single tradition. However, Midsummer and Sant Joan are kept separate, likely because they play a key role in the creation of national identity for Swedes and Catalans, respectively.