The Midsummer pole
The different villages of Åland have their own traditions when it comes
to celebrations and the Midsummer pole’s appearance – no two poles look
the same. While some poles are adorned with colourful Midsummer crowns,
others are all green and only adorned with birch wreaths and leaf or
juniper garlands.
The symbols
There are many
different interpretations of the symbolic behind the Midsummer pole’s
different details. The weather, the shipping, the farming or a wish to
make a more splendid Midsummer pole than the one in the neighbouring
village, are a few examples.
The spar and the crossbars
Common
for all the Midsummer poles in Åland are the flagpole-like spar made
from whitewashed spruce. The 10-25 meter tall spar is furnished with
singly or horizontally crossed crossbars. Poles with single crossbars
usually have between three and five crossbars while those with double
horizontally crossed bars usually have two or three levels.
Those
with single crossbars are most common in the archipelago while those
with the horizontally crossed crossbars are common on the main island.
Leaf bunches and wreaths
The
crossbars are adorned with tops of young spruces, flags, leaf bunches
or juniper, aspen or birch wreaths. In the archipelago the crossbars
are adorned with juniper and leafy or flower wreaths.
Crowns
Adorning
the crossbars with midsummer crowns is most common on the main island.
The beautiful and colourful crowns are related to the straw crowns of
Christmas and are a symbol of virginity and youth, health and a bright
future.
The crowns are made beforehand and often through a
common effort by the villagers while the leafing takes place one day
before or on Midsummer Eve. All interested are welcome to help.
The “Fäktargubbe” figure
In
top of the Midsummer pole sits a dressed up gentleman of wood and
swings his arms. The “Fäktargubbe” is a symbol for diligence and work.
Streamer or flag
Under
the “Fäktargubbe” figure is a streamer or flag, often in the ålandish
colours; blue, yellow and red. Metal streamers also occur.
Sun
Some
Midsummer poles are adorned with a sun under the streamer or flag. The
sun symbolises life-giving heat. The backside of the sun is a
weathervane shaped as a rooster, a fish, a blade of an oar or the like.
A rooster as a weathervane symbolises farming while the fish symbolises
the fishing industry.
Sailing boats
Small sailing boats sail around the spar as a symbol for the Åland shipping industry.
Leaves
Garlands
made of aspen leaves or leaves from other trees, leaves of lily of the
valley or flowers from the mountain ash make a pattern in the shape of
an hourglass or squares when they are stretched in between the spar and
the crossbars.