majstång

A majstång, or maypole, is a tall wooden pole used in the midsummer celebrations of Sweden and other parts of the Nordic region. It is typically erected outdoors on Midsummer Eve and serves as the focal point for communal dancing and song.

Construction and decoration: The pole is usually made of timber and ranges from several meters tall. It is decorated with garlands of evergreen branches and flowers, and hung with long, colorful ribbons that trail to the ground. Near the top there is often a wreath or crown of leaves and blossoms. The exact design varies by region and local tradition.

Erection and celebration: A team of volunteers or local authorities raise the majstång, often with the help of ladders and ropes. Once upright, community members gather to sing and dance around the pole. The most well-known dances are traditional ring dances that encircle the maypole, followed by comedic or improvisational dances such as små grodorna (the little frogs). The festivities commonly include foods, games, and folk music.

Cultural significance and variations: The majstång is a central symbol of Swedish Midsummer and, to a lesser extent, Finnic communities in Finland. It embodies a blend of historic fertility rites and national folk tradition. Some regions feature multiple maypoles or unique decorative motifs; public parks, town squares, and schools host public celebrations.

History: Maypoles have ancient roots in European midsummer customs. In Sweden, the tradition was formalized during the 16th–19th centuries and evolved into a nationwide festive rite by the 1800s.