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Michigan Heritage Awards
Arts
Nomination Form (PDF)
Arts Nomination
Form (word)
Community
Leadership Nomination Form (PDF)
Community Leadership
Nomination Form (word)
^ MHA Awardees List ^
Photo courtesy of Lois Movalson
Photo by Lynne Swanson
The Swedish-American Community of Brevort,
Michigan
2010 awardee, Brevort (Mackinac County), Swedish
Midsummer Pole and Celebration
The Swedish-speaking immigrants, who settled in Brevort, Michigan, at the
turn of the twentieth century, continued a tradition from their native Åland
Islands, located between Sweden and Finland, of celebrating Midsummer with
a Midsummer pole and festivities. After a storm in the 1960s destroyed the
original pole, the tradition was discontinued. When the Movalson family
of Brevort visited Åland Islands in the 1970s to research family history,
they observed many communities celebrating Midsummer with the same type
of poles, and when they returned to Brevort were committed to revive the
tradition with the entire community. They created a new pole out of cedar,
about half the height of the original pole. On top they placed a carved
and painted whirligig representing humanity, a wooden whirligig representing
the sun, and a wooden rooster, the sun’s herald. Below the carvings
are four carved and painted sailing boats that spin in the wind representing
the four seasons. Hanging from the cross beams are crowns, colorful strips
of cloth made into balls, representing the six days of creation. During
the Midsummer celebration, men gather poplar leaves and men and women of
all ages tie the leaves into bundles and string them in garlands back and
forth along the cross beams. Ropes are then attached to the decorated pole
which is then raised by several men pulling on ropes. A local dignitary
pounds in a bolt at the bottom holder to secure the pole upright. After
listening to women sing Swedish songs and to Lois Movalson give interpretive
remarks geared for new visitors, the community continues the celebration
with a potluck dinner.
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