Midsummer's Eve

Hello Everyone!

One final update before we head off for our first European Holiday adventure! :) I’m really getting excited about our traveling and can’t wait to see new places! :) The weather in all of the cities is looking really good, nice and warm, mostly sunny and just all around perfect! I really can’t wait! I think I’m the most excited for Poland since it’s a place I’ve always wanted to go to. Most of my family immigrated from Poland back in the late 1800s and so I’m looking forward to seeing the towns where those people were born! I think it’s going to be so amazing and very tempting to not want to buy a million things there. I will admit that even though I really want to go to Auschwitz I’m very nervous about it. I have a really difficult time with that historical event and that people could be so cruel to others. I know its very intense from what Joe told me already so I’m trying to prepare myself! We shall see, either way I feel like it’s something that if you have the chance to see it you must. How people can think this didn’t happen is beyond me! I’m sure I’ll have tales to tell when we get back.

So last night was Midsummer’s Eve. This is a celebration associated with the longest day of the year (Which in Kolding happened to be 21 June). This tradition dates back to pre-Christian times and was originally a fertility festival which had different customs and traditions done in hopes of a good harvest and to celebrate nature. In addition to this the Vikings celebrated the holiday by visiting healing water wells and burning fires to ward off evil. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer) The holiday is also a way to remember the witch burnings that took place in the 16th and 17th century. The tradition now is to burn a straw witch that you can see at the top of the bonfire. The third reason why Midsummer’s Eve is celebrated is to commemorate the birth of St. John the Baptist who is said to have been born 6 months before Jesus Christ. (http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/annualeventstraditions/a/midsummerseve.htm). With a little history under my belt I was looking forward to celebrating something that we don’t do in the states.



During the day I stopped at the tourist office and asked the girls about the celebration. I was told that the lake at Koldinghus would have a free celebration and that there would be music, activities for the children and the bon fire. Joe and I decided to go over around 745pm and get a spot. There were so many people there! I was amazed at the amount of people who had come out to celebrate considering that you normally don’t see that many Danes out and about, unless there’s something good going on. When we got there they were playing music and everyone was having a good time. We found a good spot to see and waited for a while then they set the fire. The witch burned away quickly so hopefully no evil will come to Kolding this summer. :) After the witch burning we went closer to the stage and got our blanket out and listened to the music for a while. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and Joe and I had a good time relaxing on the blanket and enjoying the beautiful night! :) We took a walk around the lake before heading home.




Now you’re all going to have to sit on the edge of your seats while Joe and I travel since there won’t be any updates until we get back. I hope everyone has a wonderful week and continues to enjoy the summer months! I’ll look forward to updating when we get back!

Love from Amanda