Issue link: https://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1544632
36 WAC Magazine | wac.net club life reciprocal club By Aileen Morales While Midsummer was made popular to many Americans by the award-winning 2019 horror movie "Midsommar," we're happy to say the upcoming festival in Stockholm is far less sinister. e origins of Midsummer have long been debated, but the heart of the celebration honors the arrival of summer and invites you to bask in the season's light and warmth during the summer solstice. e perfect Midsummer Day begins at dawn with barefoot flower picking in the beautiful Swedish countryside to create your colorful flower wreath. As with most Swedish holidays, hearty food is a must, with the traditional menu includ- ing pickled herring, boiled new potatoes, and delicious strawberry cake. Festivities center around the maypole, the holiday's most iconic symbol, where people of all ages gather to dance around a pole decorated with leaves and flowers. Cap off the evening with cold beer, a round of schnapps, and a traditional drinking song. As celebrations are tied to the summer solstice, this year's Midsummer's Eve falls on June 19–20. But your Swedish holiday is just beginning! Add these day trips to your list: • Visit ABBA e Museum, a must-see for all disco and Mamma Mia! fans. • Hike to Tännforsen, Sweden's largest waterfall that shows best in May and June thanks to the spring flood. Be sure to visit on a sunny day, when light reflecting through the mist creates brilliant rainbows across the spray. • Relax during a Stockholm Archipela- go boat tour. • Go beyond the city and explore Viking history with a day trip to sites such as Birka and Hovgården. • Take a walking tour of the city followed by an ice bath and sauna, a Nordic specialty. No matter what you choose, you'll have all day. Summer in Stockholm means 18–20 hours of daylight and nights that never get truly dark. To visit a club, members must request a letter of introduction. Log on to wac.net/loi. Submit club reviews at wac.net/reciprocal-reviews. wac.net/reciprocal-clubs STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Sällskapet Club Arsenalsgatan 7, 111 47 Stockholm www.sallskapet.se The Sällskapet is a Stockholm insti- tution. The club is built around dining and was founded in 1800. Originally established as a social men's club, it is now open to men and women. The club is home to one of Sweden's largest private libraries. Lecturers are regularly invited to speak, combining meals with talks on a wide range of topics. There are no hotel rooms or fitness facilities. RECIPROCAL CLUB Bask in the Swedish sun Enjoy summer in a city where daylight never seems to end