Danish Seasonal Almanac: Summer
A seasonal update from Denmark, with a poem, a recipe, and journalling prompts.
Welcome to the Summer letter of the Danish Seasonal Almanac series.
First of all, I want to wish you a special and tender Solstice. It is a time of change, a time to notice, but also a time to stand still and enjoy the present.
Meanwhile, in Denmark
At the moment, the sun rises around 4.30 a.m. and sets at 10 p.m. The days are long, full of beautiful bird song and bees pollinating. The first strawberries are ready to be picked. The scent of rose, honeysuckle and lavender fills the air, as the sky is painted in pastel colours, just before dusk.
On June 23rd, it is Denmark’s turn to celebrate midsummer and the solstice, which is called Sankt Hans (also known as Saint Johns Eve). All over the country, the bonfires are lite around 8 p. m., and Danes start singing the Midsummer song (Midsommervisen), written by Holger Drachmann in 1885. My favourite place to witness this has always been the beach, and to have my feet in the sand to connect to the earth.
The tall bonfire, the evening skies and the song create a magical calm. Words came to in that moment and I wrote this poem:
After midsummer, the celebration of summer continues, interrupted by occasional days of rain, to feed our beloved flowers and trees. We take to the sea and the canals to enjoy the freedom that a moment on water gives. Bikes packed with picnics and blankets make their way to gardens, parks and the beach, and on the way you might be lucky to find a roadside stand with strawberries, cherries, rhubarb or potatoes. Duvets hang on the clothes lines to be aired out, when not used as a blanket to lie in the sun.
"It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside."
— Maud Hart Lovelace
To hygge
Lying softly on duvets in the garden, while reading a book
Picking a roadside bouquet
Making a flower crown out of daisies
Enjoy sunsets on the beach
Going on long walks, because the weather allows it to
Saving a perfect little flower and pressing it in a book
Packing a wee picnic and biking somewhere
Opening the window and hear the rain
Picking ripe fruit to make cake or jam
To make
One of the small moments I remember from summer, while visiting my great-grandmother on the countryside, was her cleaning rose hip to make jam. It is a collective memory we have in our family.
Last year, I made rose hip and apple jam, and the taste took me back in time. I should warn you though, the peeling of rose hip takes patience, but it is worth every bit.
Potpourri
While you are picking rose hips, you can also collect some petals if there is any roses in bloom to make potpourri. You can either air dry them on a flat surface or give them 3-4 hours in the oven at 50 degrees.
To write & notice
Summer is a season of freedom, of happenings, of experiences, and of doing. It can be wonderful and freeing, but also overwhelming and pressured.
As the year continues, what do you more of, less of, and let go of?
How can you slow down in moments of overwhelm?
How can you show up for yourself this season?
What dreams do you keep in your heart?
And lastly,
a mood board to dream of summer in Denmark.
"What dreams do you keep in your heart?" Love this question.
We enjoyed a guided visualisation as part of yesterday's vision boarding workshop and it really helped me tap into the deeper parts of myself, my heart, and listen to what I truly want and need.
Nadja this is so beautiful! Summer is my absolute favourite season.. The one where I feel most myself and most alive. I love the mood board you created ☀️🤍