Maypole dancing happens at Swedish Midsummer festivals, so the inclusion of this in “Midsommar” is accurate. Journalist and Swedish tradition expert Po Tidholm told Elle, “The Swedish midsommarstång, or maypole, is said to be of German, Christian heritage.” Dancing around the Maypole is a pagan custom that originally was celebrated on May 1st or May Day, and involves decorating a pole with ribbons, flowers, and greenery, to represent a tree (per Learn Religions). This goes back to the practice of ancient people dancing around real trees, as this was believed to bring in a large crop harvest.
According to Real Scandinavia, dancing around the Maypole is a newer tradition in Swedish Midsummer celebrations, which came directly from Germany. However, since spring comes to Sweden later than in Germany, there wasn’t enough greenery to cover the pole at the beginning of May, and so the Maypole ritual was pushed to Midsummer instead. As Tidholm explained to Elle, “Dancing is a way to make Midsummer fun for kids.”
While the Maypole is part of Swedish Midsummer traditions, the dance competition shown in “Midsommar” is not. As explained in the film, the Maypole dance competition in Hårga is in defiance of the “Black One.” According to Tidholm, this dancing is probably inspired by an old myth from his home province, Hälsingland: The devil disguised himself as a fiddler, and lured young people to dance till they died, as described in the film. However, according to Tidholm, “the tale has, to my knowledge, no connection with Midsummer” (per Elle).
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