Finland - Midsummer 2016

Midsummer is the day of summer solstice falling between the 20th and 22nd of June. This is also the culmination of summer although in the North of Europe, the coldness has just gone for over a month.

This is my first summer in Finland that i had been desperately waiting for. After 8 months struggling with long nights, freezing weather, icy roads and diving in layer-by-layer clothes, finally in the end of May, I could walk out of the house with light outfits and embrace the sunshine. Beyond words, I'm unable to describe how relief both my mental and physic are. Then, one month later, my boyfriend's mother told me that Midsummer was coming. I was like MIDSUMMER? IS SUMMER GOING TO END SOON? in shock This was exactly a fear - fear of Finnish winter.

The color of summer

Whether I like it or not, Midsummer is still one of the most important holiday of the years that all the Finns wait for. And yes, I embrace it as a holiday not the meaning it is the turning point after which days begin to slowly shorten. In Finnish, this holiday is called Juhannus and it means all about gathering with family and friend to admire the nightless night.

*Not only Finland but Norway and Sweden celebrate Midsummer too.

Nighless night

Juhannus virtually turns many cities to ghost towns across the country since most of Finns head to their Mökki - summer cottage- in the middle of tranquil forest by the lakeside. While the sun almost over-shines everyday in Vietnam, warm and sunny weather is not always guaranteed in Finnish summer. If the weather permits, people love spending time outdoor on some activities such as BBQ feast, fishing, boating, swimming, sunbathing,.... On top of that, Sauna in a wooden cabin like the old days is the most "Finnish" custom worth experience. The sauna rituals includes warming it up, crack a beer, sauna in the heat of approximately 100 Celsius while beating yourself lightly with a loaf of  birch branches, then jumping to the nearby waters. 

Mökki with a small sauna cabin nextby

My boyfriend's family may not a very-Finnish one but I know they always try to bring me as much the "Finnishness" as possile. I'm so grateful for that. There have been plenty of interesting experience with them that I couldn't ask for more. Since we are in relationship, Me and my boyfriend usually prefer spending time with them on holiday rather than drinking with the friends and this Juhannus was not an exception

the garden

The family lives in countryside which is 20km far from us. Their house is a traditional wooden house in red, which is surrounded with fresh green grass-cover ground. Such a satisfying place where looking to the garden is like a therapy for a tired mind. Due to the big size of family, we decided to celebrate Juhannus right at the parent's home.

  

The last working day before Juhannus, ALKO (the alcohol stores) was crammed of customers. It is worth noting that Holiday to Finns is synonymous with alcohol and drunk (*Finn's drinking habits will be released later). We quickly got some Chadornnay, Long drink, and a bottle of Gin label Sapphire Bombay which was highly-as-hell taxed 45%

The first day of Juhannus, we visited the Grandparents at their own Mökki. On the way there, the parents showed us the place they vowed together 25 year ago in a nice summer day. They got married in the same year with my parents and both the first children are same age (me and my boyfriend). The difference is just my parents' wedding took place in the winter as many others in Vietnam. Definitely, no one would like to wed in -20 celsius Finnish winter. 

Grandmom is my favourite. She makes me feel so close like she was my real grandmom since the first day. Although hug is not a Finnish greeting custom but she does that all the time we meet. 70 years old, thank God, she is still young and healthy, still can make nice cakes whenever we come. I just feel so bad that I haven't been able to talk to her. 

There were two another grandchildren in pink who were still little in the Mökki that day and I found the smallest one so fun. She wasn't too shy as typical Finnish kids. She talked to me and didnt notice that I couldn't understand her at all.

Boating at grandparents Mökki

Later in the "late evening" (10pm when the sky was still bright), Bombay - a close Thai mate picked us up to his friend's house where he said "There are Asians". When we arrived, people were grilling chicken wings and sausage - a lots! People ate messily while chatting noisily, handed by handed one glass of drinking, there was nothing called table manner with that bunch of buddies. They really reminded me the old days in Vietnam with my friends having beer after work. 

too crazy

Since we went there all in sudden, we didnt bring our drinking but Fluekky - Bombay cousin kept giving us many shoots of Whiskey. The others drank heavily too. And after a while, everybody were absorbed enough alcohol to get loosen and crazy. My boyfriend karaoked then me then Bombay. However the most hilarious part must be ladyboy's dance moves imitated by the Thai boys. I couldn't help laughing out loud and wondering if they had more or less gay nature in their blood. That night, Milla - Fluekky wife, also a new Mom of baby Oscar, who didnt drink, was the only one able to drive us home at 2.30 am. I didnt remember how I could get on bed at all. The whole following day was so terrible because of my hangover.

The second day of Juhannus, I was stick with bed until 12 but came back on and off during the day. My boyfriend was still fine enough to open the Gin bottle of which the flavor extremely satisfied him. It rained during the day so people just sheltered inside. although that day was just another-cold-day in summer, the mother cooked Finnish soup usually dedicated for a freezing day".  the soup blended with our mood in the humid weather so well.  

the family

The third day, also the last day, also the Sunday, was blessed with sunshine - such the ideal weather for a BBQ feast in the garden. I marinated some fresh meat yesterday while the parents bought ready-to-grill meat in market. I reckon most of people do that here due to "The Finns actually don't appreciate food as much as the French or the Italian or the Asian do" - said the boyfriend. Sometimes I also buy pre-marinated meat for our daily meal but when it comes to special days, I prefer making my own flavor. Moreover, I always would like to bring the Asian Taste to my boyfriend's family when there is a chance. *I haven't challenged them with fish sauce - hope soon :)

At the end of Juhannus, my boyfriend finished half bottle of Gin on his own meanwhile I was scared of alcohol until a week later