Midsummer's Eve

As Midsummer is celebrated in Sweden this weekend, I am reflecting on the Swedish National Anthem. My friend Fran, AKA Fishducky, went on the Internet and found an English translation after I talked about it on Swedish Flag Day earlier this month. What a nice thing to do, thank you Fran.

Swedish National Anthem

Thou ancient, thou freeborn, thou mountainous North,

In beauty and peace our hearts beguiling,

I greet thee, thou loveliest land on the earth,

Thy sun, thy skies, thy verdant meadows smiling.

Thy sun, thy skies, thy verdant meadows smiling.

Thy throne rests on mem’ries from great days of yore,

When worldwide renown was valour’s guerdon.

I know to thy name thou art true as before.

In thee I'll live, in thee I'll die, thou North Land,

In thee I'll live, in thee I'll die, thou North Land

That first verse does it for me, brings tears to my eyes and makes me homesick. 





Happy Midsummer's Eve to my Swedish friends. I hope the sun will shine, the Maypoles will be beautiful, and you will enjoy this most special of holidays. This time of year, it's difficult to be away from Sweden, believe me.