The day dawned when we would enjoy for the third time the long-standing tradition of a Maypole being raised...with joyful participation of the townspeople of Kullsbjorken, especially the children. This was to be a much more intimate small-town setting. In keeping with Midsummer custom, Sage went out near our cottage to pick lots of wildflowers to make into a wreath for her head. She will wear this when we go to the Midsummer celebration later today.
But first we took some time to celebrate having known each other for exactly 50 years on this date. It was an anniversary we will remember for years to come. When we went into the Tourist Bureau in the nearby town of Rattvik, we bought a pair of earrings for Judy shaped in a Dalarna horse design. Because it was Midsummer Day, women working in the office were dressed in their folk costumes.
Outside, we gazed at the beautiful fountain in the town square and snapped a picture of a famous life-size Dala horse that a Finnish friend of ours in Cincinnati remembers being photographed with many, many years ago.
Meanwhile, everyone else met up with Tina to walk out on the long municipal pier and some decided to swim in the cold water of Siljan Lake! Tina is taking some vacation to be with us for the next several days. We are so happy she can do that.
A real treat was in store for the evening. We were included with all of the members of Birgit's extended family at their Midsummer gathering...all three generations! The location was at the lovely traditional Swedish home of Birgit's sister, Karin, and her husband, Jan. We first met Karin as a friendly nine year old when we first came to Tallberg in 1965. When we left, she presented us with the orange wooden Dala horse in the photo at the top of today's blog!
We didn't know what to expect, but everyone was so welcoming, warm, and gracious that we felt right at home. Below there is a family photo including their daughter, Anna, and son, Per, as well as two photos inside their lovely home and the colorful barn as seen from the upstairs window...
Karin and Jan
The best part about travel is the people you meet. It's amazing just to realize that the children of the two families we met in Middle Sweden 45 years ago now have children and grandchildren of their own, and they are carrying on the Midsummer traditions in the same way all these years later. In the photo below Birgit and her two sisters, Kerstin and Karin, pose with Dick and Judy. In the next photo, Ulf, Solveig, and Tina pose with Bonnie, Maia, Judy and Dick. Birgit and her sons, Mattias, and Anders and daughter, Johanna, are in the third photo We feel we are all one family!
Many scrumptious homemade desserts tempted us. We surely couldn't stop with just one.
Solveig, Maia and Ulf
Sage with new Swedish friends,Ellen and Ida,
Birgit's granddaughters
A little after 7:00 we reluctantly pushed away from the tables, and all of the families made the short walk to a nearby road to watch the procession of the town's residents, many in traditional costumes, marching to the Maypole site. 
The parade, led by Karin's husband proudly carrying the Swedish flag included fiddlers, a guitarist and a flute player.
When the Maypole was raised, the national anthem was sung, and a speech was made about how wonderful the Dalarna region is. Then the dancing began, first around the Maypole and later in a barn nearby.
Even Sage joined the ballroom dancers in the barn!
By this time tomorrow we will have bid farewell to our cozy cabin on the lake, and we will have to drive back to Uppsala for some very different adventures; but before that we will experience one more Rattvik surprise.
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