Swedish ‘Midsommar’ scheduled for this weekend

    Members of the New Sweden Historical Society have issued an invitation to the 137th Midsommar  Festival on June 21 and 22,  according to Debbie Blanchette, Midsommar committee chair, announced.    The tradition of Midsommar is a celebration of the longest day of the  year. In Europe, the holiday has a contentious religious history—the  day has meaning for both pagans and Christians.
    The Swedish Colony Midsommar departs from old Sweden tradition by including more  activities. Blanchette says, “Midsommar is a simple, warm, sharing time for our community and visitors—after our long winter, please come  and enjoy the start of Maine’s summer.”
    There are several additions to this year’s celebration. Special musical guests,  Boston’s Stämbandet, travels up to share their traditional a cappella  Scandinavian songs. They are singing at several events and giving a concert at 2:45 p.m. Saturday, at the Baptist Church.
    Lynn Johnson,  chair of genealogy committee, is hosting a research table to help  trace your Swedish roots.
    The Saturday Swedish supper is back this year sponsored by the G.A. Lutheran Church. The Woodland Historical  Society’s Lagerstrom House Museum will be open on Sunday afternoon as  well as Saturday.
    On Friday June 20, at 6 p.m., the Stockholm American Legion is  putting on a Swedish meatball supper followed by the first session of  dancing.
    The festival starts on Saturday, June 21, at 6:30 a.m. with  the Midsommar Frukost (breakfast) until 9 a.m. Then the Capitolium  (Capitol) Museum opens. The Capitolium was the center for Swedish  settlers who immigrated in the 1870’s. It was a meeting place, church, store, and town office. Behind the museum, the Lindsten Stuga, a  traditional home, opens. Handcrafted items are raffled.
    The Capitol School Museum and Gift Shop has displays and Swedish gift items. Arts and crafts are near the museum and artists may call to reserve a  space.   
    Everyone can decorate a traditional wooden Dala horse and craft a  flower hair-wreath.
    The highlight of the Saturday celebration is raising the traditional Majstång (maypole) at 11 a.m. The Little Folk Dancers and everyone may dance around the maypole. Hot dogs, sandwiches, sweets, and homemade ice cream are for sale. Bring your own seating.
    After the Majstång there are dance lessons and a chance to learn Swedish lawn bowling: kubb (pronounced “coob”).
    The Woodland  Historical Society opens their Lagerstrom House Museum at the corner  
of the Beckstrom and Sealander Roads, and the Snowman School Museum on Woodland Center Road (Rt. 228).
    The Noak Blacksmith Shop and the  Larsson/Ostlund historical house are open for tours and  demonstrations. The First Baptist Church has an open house with the  Stämbandet Concert there at 2:45 p.m. followed by an historic video by Brenda Jepson. The buildings are open until 4 p.m.
    At 4:30-6:00 p.m. a Swedish Supper is at the Gustaf Adolph Lutheran  Church. No reservations are necessary. Across town at the New Sweden School, is the Covenant Church Smörgåsbord. They serve at 5 and 5 p.m. Get tickets now from Judy Holmquist, 207-498-3525 after 5 p.m. After supper there is Swedish dancing at the school with live  music.
    Sunday starts with a 10 a.m. Interfaith Church Service at historic  W.W. Thomas Park followed by a buffet lunch in the park’s dining hall.  Sunday’s highlight is the program at the park band shell. The event  starts by parading the Majstång (Maypole) from the museum.  Entertainment includes Stämbandet, the Little Folk Dancers, Swedish  music, and raffle drawings.
    In the event of rain Saturday, all outdoor activities are postponed to  Sunday, noon, in the park. If it rains on Sunday, the church  service would be at the G.A. Lutheran Church, lunch remains at the  park dining hall, and the program would be at the New Sweden school.
    Please park in designated areas: town hall, Lutheran Church, behind North Star Variety, Baptist Church, Thomas Park, and Blacksmith shop.  A shuttle bus stops between the school and the post office. At the  museum, there is only handicapped parking and drop off. Parking is restricted to the north side of Station Road.
      For more information contact Debbie Blanchette, 207-896-5874; email newswede@maine.rr.com , postal address: 29 Station Road, New Sweden, Maine, or visit www.MaineSwedishColony.info  for a calendar. Contact the Caribou Chamber of Commerce about  accommodations.