Up here in the far north, Midsummer day isn't so different from the 30 or so days before or after; well, at least in terms of the length of the day.
No "Longest day" concept for us as we are right in the middle of the "White Nights" period, where we have weeks and weeks when the sun doesn't set at all.
This leaves us with views like this at midnight and potential confusion with concepts like "At the end of the day".
Here in Äkäslompolo, the locals and holidaymakers gather at the side of the lake in time for the midnight lighting of the bonfire.
Grilled sausages, beer and some local musicians make a great accompaniment to what is a really nice feature of summer in the Arctic.
It's nice to get a good view of the bonfire, and the guys in this picture surely have the right idea, while the rest of us are trying to get just the right photo, while still retaining some eyebrows!
Here in Lapland, that would be considered practically dark. At Midnight, you can cycle without lights, read the small print on documents, and practically see the plants and trees growing as they take advantage of the short Arctic summer.
Strangely perhaps, it's also a very relaxing time.
With no urgency to finish things before it gets dark, and endless daylight hours, it's almost necessary to have an alarm to issue bedtime reminders.
Otherwise, it's easy to find that it's reached 2am while you weren't looking.
It doesn't make it any easier to head off to bed when there are all sorts of birds and animals around to be interested in, taking advantage of the daylight, like these reindeer taking a time-out in our garden.
Living in Lapland through summer you realise that it's just as appealing and just as fascinating throughout the year, with incredibly different seasons.
And, if you really can't stop thinking of Lapland as a skiing destination, well they even do that here in summer too!
This leaves us with views like this at midnight and potential confusion with concepts like "At the end of the day".
Holiday Time!
In Finland, Juhannuspäivä, Midsummer, is a special day, celebrated with a holiday, Midnight bonfires and sometimes a drink or two. Everyone that can gets out of the towns and cities and makes for the villages and lakes.
Here in Äkäslompolo, the locals and holidaymakers gather at the side of the lake in time for the midnight lighting of the bonfire. Grilled sausages, beer and some local musicians make a great accompaniment to what is a really nice feature of summer in the Arctic.
It's nice to get a good view of the bonfire, and the guys in this picture surely have the right idea, while the rest of us are trying to get just the right photo, while still retaining some eyebrows!
Midsummer Relaxation
When I was a lad in Scotland, I remember people talking about being able to just about read a newspaper outside in Shetland at Midsummer.Here in Lapland, that would be considered practically dark. At Midnight, you can cycle without lights, read the small print on documents, and practically see the plants and trees growing as they take advantage of the short Arctic summer.
Strangely perhaps, it's also a very relaxing time. With no urgency to finish things before it gets dark, and endless daylight hours, it's almost necessary to have an alarm to issue bedtime reminders.
Otherwise, it's easy to find that it's reached 2am while you weren't looking.
It doesn't make it any easier to head off to bed when there are all sorts of birds and animals around to be interested in, taking advantage of the daylight, like these reindeer taking a time-out in our garden.
Not just for Christmas
Like many foreigners, before we first visited Lapland, we only really thought of it as being the home of Santa Claus and a place for winter fun and sports.
Living in Lapland through summer you realise that it's just as appealing and just as fascinating throughout the year, with incredibly different seasons. And, if you really can't stop thinking of Lapland as a skiing destination, well they even do that here in summer too!
