Summer Solstice Celebration with the Nordic Society and VŠE Students

Scandinavians love light and sunshine, and it’s no wonder. The summer and winter solstices are among the most celebrated holidays in the North. The summer solstice – Midsommar – is celebrated on the weekend closest to June 21, while the winter solstice – Lucia – is celebrated on December 13. Both holidays are organized by the Nordic Society, and since 2000, students learning Swedish at the University of Economics in Prague (VŠE) have regularly participated.

This year, Midsommar took place on June 18 in the garden of Jana Holá, head of the Swedish section. The publishing house Argo presented her new translations of books by Tove Jansson, known for her stories about the Moomins. The celebration was attended by several other prominent translators from Swedish, Danish, English, and German, a representative of the Swedish Embassy, and several former Czech diplomats. Among them was the current diplomat and former ambassador to Denmark, Zdeněk Lyčka, who founded the Czech Centre in Stockholm and served as the Director General of the Czech Centres. He is a graduate of Scandinavian Studies and VŠE.

The event featured live music, fresh strawberries typical of Midsommar, beautiful weather, and a wonderful summer atmosphere.