SAPL 128th Midsummer

After two virtual celebrations, Midsommar 2022 was back in Sveadal  

  • SAPL President Erik Juul welcomes everyone to the 128th SAPL Midsummer festival in Sveadal in 2022. Photo: Kathleen Erikson

  • Like all Swedish communities in the U.S., planning for this year’s celebration began a year ago. Of course, the pandemic isolation and economic inflation continued to challenge any physical celebration and attendance. And as in any large group congregating without masks or social distancing, we will have to see whether we were careful enough. But this year’s attendees were as enthusiastic as always, and the weather was pleasant rather than hot. However, because of low reservations and anticipated attendance, the Midsummer dinner at the clubhouse had been cancelled. Yet, Marty Benson’s Midsummer Cafe offered such an abundance of good food that no one left hungry, and it was wonderful to see our 100-year-old Flo Spanier and her sambo, 90-year-old cabin owner Sverker “Gus” Brolin, careful but happily celebrating Midsummer again.

  • Carol Madigan presents the League’s gift to Barbro Osher as Ted Olsson reads the SAPL Proclamation honoring Osher, with SAPL VP Alexander Olsson in foreground as Swedish flag color guard. Photographer: Kathleen Erickson

  • Planning is a year-round exercise
    Because the Swedish American Patriotic League is binational and celebrates its Swedish heritage annually by producing the oldest Swedish Midsommar program in the U.S., then shortly after celebrates its American patriotism with a huge weekend of sports competitions, banquet, speeches and singing patriotic songs, it’s necessary to allow a couple weeks before each program. So, the Midsummer program was advanced a week to Saturday, June 18.
    Pandemic isolation and economic inflation might affect our celebration, although San Francisco and the Bay Area were among the first to vaccinate, and many or most wear masks and keep their distance. But did we need to produce a virtual program for a third year? Would vendors be able to come? And more importantly, would individuals and families wish to attend?
    The beautiful program and posters were produced, the picnic area and fika patio were set up, the stage was recreated on the grand lawn.
    Worry was slowly evolving: Advance reservations were low and it didn’t seem worthwhile to even prepare our traditional banquet in the clubhouse or on its adjoining dance floor. The committee had to stick with its final decision and hope for the best … and eventually it became clear that the most amazing aspect of Midsummer 2022 was how much people enjoyed being together.
    By Friday afternoon we had set up all the vendors’ tents surrounding the Maypole lawn, the maypole had been carried down and its stanchion anchored to its footing; in the cool of the evening it was wrapped in greenery of branches and leaves. Now it only awaited tomorrow morning's arrival of the kids to adorn it all over with flowers. Finally, the benches from all throughout Sveadal were placed upon the semicircular main lawn facing the stage. Additional seating would be aligned upon the deck of the clubhouse overlooking the whole pageant the next day.

  • Seated in honor are Co-Chairwomen of this and previous Midsummers, the Weissenborn sisters: Marta Ryan with her twins (Odin & Carl) and Linnea Chapman. Beside them is Parade Marshall Barbro Osher together with her friend Karin Sayegh. Photo: Kathleen Erikson

  • Fewer people, a pleasant day, a slower pace
    On Saturday morning, everything was in place. The day proceeded at a leisurely pace, and since there were fewer people, everyone had more time finding a favorite place to spread their picnic blankets and food. Most people set out their picnic blankets and refreshments as a home base for the day. From there, if they did not go to the pool, many followed a map of Sveadal, learning of its wonders and enjoying nature. Early on, the Midsummer Cafe, this year run by Marty Nelson and his extended family, were doing a brisk business in food and drinks, with about a dozen picnic tables for dining along the edge of the basketball court; others relaxed at Linda Zalko’s Fika patio for elva kaffe.
    Almost a dozen vendors were selling their Swedish crafts, with several new ones, and people lingered longer at each vendor booth, admiring and purchasing their gifts. The admission table did a brisk business selling admission bracelets, as well as the beautifully illustrated program booklet and poster, both created by Linnea Chapman.
    At noon the call went out for some strong men to raise the maypole. About two dozen quickly did so, the musicians accompanied the dances, and once again all the kids gathered with their parents and were transformed into hopping frogs or rehearsed the chores of the week in favorite dances. The dancing lasted an hour: just enough to build up a good appetite.
    Everyone returned to their lunch spots. The SAPL member organizations typically filled a couple dozen picnic tables and many a skål was exchanged, crawfish or herring consumed, and always a recent Nordstjernan midsummer recipe was devoured.
    As everyone prepared to enjoy the program, they were serenaded by the Zaida Singers. They are favorites from dozens of years of singing for us at all the Bay Area Swedish events. It was particularly heartening to see Zaida Binetti herself, one of the legends in our region, take the stage and sing with her group of friends.

  • Lauren Slack (Columbia), Charlie Sjögren-Black (Queen), Anita Beroza (Svea) with attendants: Crown Bearer (Ella Chapman) and Train Bearers (Lexi Fabel and Svea Chapman) Photo: Kathleen Erikson

  • A program full of surprises
    While the audience enjoyed this prelude, the procession was assembling for the parade that introduces the program. This year the League saluted and dedicated the Midsummer performance to Honorary Consul General of Sweden Barbro Osher, in her Swedish costume, who, as Parade Marshall escorted by Ted Olsson, led the parade from the clubhouse to the road and back again, finally crossing the semi-circle lawn toward the stage. Following too were the flag bearers, the musicians setting the pace, people in Swedish costumes, the Maids of Honor representing the League’s various lodges, Columbia, Svea, and the Queen and her attendants and League officers.
    SAPL President Erik Juul welcomed everyone and introduced Kari Lynn Hall to sing the American national anthem— she was enthusiastically applauded for her upbeat rendition—and Jan Nordin for leading us in the Swedish anthem. This is always followed by the introduction of the three emblematic leading ladies: Midsummer Queen Charlie Sjögren-Black, who is attending college to become a cardiac physician; Columbia Lauren Slack, who is currently serving in the Navy; and Svea Anita Beroza, who will attend university in London this fall. All three of the emblematic women were nominated by a Vasa Order of America local lodge this year.
    Ted Olsson introduced each of the Maids of Honor in the Queen’s Court, indicating the names of the clubs which nominated them and the date of each club’s founding — all for more than half a century; several for more than a century. After each of the emblematic figures is introduced, their predecessors in the audience are typically asked to rise and be acknowledged. So, at the end of his remarks, Ted asked all former members of the court to rise, these “Ladies in Waiting” for their chances to become one of the three emblematic figures. This allows everyone to notice how many people it takes to perpetuate this tradition as well as the pride that each one takes in having been part of this historic pageant.

  • The Maids of Honor (Anna Holbrook, Kelsey Juul, Elvira Lundberg, Allie Nelson, Micah Nelson, Ella Nichelini, Katrina Tisell) each represent an organization in the Swedish American Patriotic League. Photo: Kathleen Erikson

  • Barbro Osher honored as inspiration
    For the focus of this year’s program, Ted called Carol Madigan and the crown bearer to the stage to present Barbro Osher with a bouquet and commemorative gift. He also asked SAPL Vice President Alexander Olsson in his Swedish costume (as flag bearer) to escort Barbro to the stage. Introducing Barbro, who for two decades has represented Sweden to those assembled and us to Sweden, and who is beloved for her witty and welcome remarks, Ted noted that she had been a founder of SWEA International and the founder of SWEA San Francisco. In addition to her own foundation, Pro Suecia, which has supported so many aspects of Sweden’s global leadership, as president of her husband’s Bernard Osher Foundation, she is instrumental in the fields of education, science, and culture, but it is most fondly and widely revered for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) for non-graded college courses for seniors, now in all 50 states of the United States. She was Honorary Consul General of Sweden in Los Angeles before assuming the role in Northern California. He noted the high esteem in which she is held by the royal family (she has received numerous orders from the king) and by the government, and upon her retirement here she will be succeeded by a career diplomat. Throughout much of the past, the Consul General in San Francisco was next assigned as Ambassador to a foreign country.
    So, it was at our Midsummer program that Barbro announced she would be retiring later this year and succeeded by a career Swedish diplomat. She added how much she enjoyed attending this historic Midsommar festival each year, and we must all focus on celebrating the centennial of Sveadal in four years.

  • Linda and Paul Beroza’s Children’s Chorus got the audience to join in with them on several cleverly adapted songs. Photo: Ben Bowman

  • Midsummer surprises and festivities
    A surprise to the printed program was when Ted remained on stage and asked President Juul if he would escort the Midsummer Committee Co-Chairwomen, the Weissenborn sisters Linnea Chapman and Marta Ryan to the stage. Ted mentioned how they had been prepared for this leadership role all their lives by their parents, Ken and Charlotte Weissenborn, as well as by their maternal grandparents, Gladys and John E. Peterson, all four of whom have been legendary in their service and contributions to the League and to Sveadal. The sisters’ grandparents built an early cabin by the creek in Sveadal, which all of the family still uses. Ted called upon all the committee’s sub-chairpersons to stand and they led us in a long round of applause for the sisters.
    Finally, Erik could regain the microphone and invite everyone to join in as he led the Queen and Court back to the Maypole for more dancing around the maypole until the evening continued with family dinner picnics or food from the Midsummer Café. After that many remained for dancing under the redwoods and stars almost until midnight, with food and drinks served by the kitchen and bar there. The new “Old Dance Floor” was packed with dancers for traditional Swedish folk dances and modern dancing. Both the bar and the kitchen did a good business. Gradually people retired for the night, either by driving home or returning to their campground spot.
    So, this 128th Midsummer was a superb success, even though it was quite different from previous ones, if only because it was the first in-person celebration after two virtual ones. Soon the planning will begin for next year, surely enhanced by the lessons learned this year. Sveadal sends all the Swedish communities throughout the U.S. their best wishes as they plan their returns to celebrations, too.