World Travellers

The last ten-day of June is the time when the daylight is the longest and the night is the shortest in Finland. Finlander set the Saturday between 20th, June and 23rd, June as Midsummer Festival. Midsummer Festival was once an ancient feast day to remember the birth date of Baptist. As the time goes by, Midsummer Festival loses its religion color little by little and becomes a glorious festival of folk feature which is to celebrate the rosiness and the lush of everything on earth. All kinds of celebration activities would be held following the traditional custom all over the country on this day every year. Seurasaari of the capital city of Helsinki is the center for celebrating Midsummer Festival.

Finland is quiet. But in this time, numerous families who are all dressed up come to Seurasaari to take part in the every-year bash. We are attracted by a few women dressed in nation clothes when we just step onto Seurasaari after going across the long white bridge. They are wearing white blouses with flowery one-piece dress, head with colorful scarf and flower basket in hand. They attract a lot of travelers to take photos with them as they are so beautiful under the blue sky.

Going deep along the path in the forest, we see many small workshops of traditional features on both sides of the path. Local people are dressed in many kinds of nation clothes performing how to do the handicraft and the food. This can let you see the life and work scene of the ancient people in Finland.

All of a sudden, melodious and sweet notes come into our ears from the distance where there are two young girls are performing musical instrument. On the green mattress of lawn, the adult and children both in bright clothes are playing some folk games. Happiness perfuses the mother earth.

Going ahead for not far away, a group of folk artists are dancing to their hearts’ content. Lesgirls are wearing colorful skirts of classicism while the men are wearing white coats and black trousers with black shoes on feet which make them quite handsome. Travelers around are influenced so much by the dance which is full of ardor and riot that they can not help but join in the collectivity dance which is becoming bigger and bigger in succession. They all dance to the bight music.

By: Michael Drewell

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