For American traditions and holidays, when we think of celebrating summer, we usually think of Memorial Day, The 4th of July, fireworks, barbecues, beaches, and baseball games. Of course, these are special holidays and hallmarks of an American summer. But, there’s another summer holiday celebrated internationally and has gained popularity stateside in recent years; I’m talking about summer solstice celebrations, which start in mid-June!
Sometimes referred to as Midsummer, the summer solstice could be considered the “high noon” of the calendar year. It marks the middle of the calendar year, the beginning of the calendar summer for the northern hemisphere when one of the earth’s poles is tilted the closest towards the sun. It’s also the day when we get to celebrate the sun reaching the highest position in the sky all year long. It’s truly a celebration of the day, the longest amount of daylight we can behold.
In the Baltic States and some areas of Northern Europe, the length of daylight during the summer solstice can reach 24hrs! Sweden is a country that celebrates Midsummer enthusiastically, whereas much of the country shuts down and observes the holiday.
For centuries, the Midsummer holiday has been celebrated in Sweden with festivals, dining rituals, and maybe most iconically famous dancing around a flower-covered maypole. Across many cultures, not just in Sweden, the holiday is associated with fertility, a celebration of love, and an appreciation of the earth and all the bounty it provides.
More and more Americans are enjoying summer solstice celebrations by throwing their own Midsummer parties. As a color specialist, I wanted to share some design ideas for summer solstice celebrations and Midsummer color palettes to use while enjoying the longest day of the year!
Midsummer celebrations are about celebrating the sun, nature, and the fruitful bounties the world around us provides in its purest form. So, the colors that work best for a summer solstice celebration are, of course, inspired by nature and the earthly elements!
Oak trees and mistletoe have long been sacred parts of Midsummer celebrations, honoring the natural world around us. Using deep rich greens and some almost “pollen-like” greenish-yellows in your arrangements will give your summer solstice celebration an authentic feel. A rustic picnic table draped with a deep green tablecloth, white plates, and yellow accents will inspire Midsummer beauty for all your guests!
Midsummer and all its celebrations employ lots of floral arrangements that are bright, cheery, and unmistakably summer. There is a Midsummer custom to weave flowers into crowns and small wreaths; this is fun but also time-consuming. If you don’t have time to construct bright flower crowns, consider adorning your outside patio and picnic tables with vases lush with summer arrangements.
A Midsummer floral arrangement in Scandinavia usually consists of the following flowers: Amaranths, Calico Asters, Dahlias, Purple Coneflower, and White Fall Asters. It’s a very bright arraignment, with earthy whites, pinks, oranges, and yellows.
A summer solstice celebration is all about embracing the sun and the power it shines upon us. Naturally, colors representing the sun like yellows, oranges, and golds are a staple in a Midsummer celebration. Wherever you host your Midsummer celebration, make sure that glowing golds and yellow are in focus. Dress your patio with yellow, gold, and white candles, and even employ some soft gold hanging lanterns for when the fun finally sets!
Honey is a significant component of the Midsummer celebration, and even the Midsummer full moon is referred to as the “Honey Moon.” Bees are in their height of activity at the time of the summer solstice, so bees and honey are often used to symbolize the holiday. Honey has such a striking and beautiful hue to it, especially when shining in the sunlight; embrace these earthy colors with amber-colored stemware, glasses, and plates! You could serve buttermilk biscuits with glass honey jars on each table before your main course!
How will you celebrate this upcoming summer solstice? With a Midsummer garden party? Or a long day at the beach!? Please share with me your favorite summer solstice colors and design ideas. As a color expert, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
