Ari Aster’s Midsommar (2019) is a visually stunning yet deeply unsettling folk horror film that blends psychological terror with the eerie allure of Scandinavian paganism. Set against the backdrop of Sweden’s endless summer daylight, the movie follows a group of Americans who travel to a remote Swedish village to witness a rare midsummer festival—only to uncover a series of increasingly disturbing rituals, from hallucinogenic tea ceremonies to human sacrifice.
The film’s haunting depiction of traditions—like the maypole dance, elder suicide, and the selection of a "May Queen"—leaves viewers questioning: How much of Midsommar is based on real Nordic culture, and how much is pure fiction?
In this article, we’ll dissect the film’s rituals, comparing them to authentic Swedish and Scandinavian traditions while exploring the historical and folkloric roots that inspired Ari Aster’s nightmarish vision. By the end, you’ll understand which elements are grounded in reality—and which are exaggerated for horror.
The Real Midsummer Celebration in Sweden: A Festival of Light and Life
Before diving into the film’s darker elements, it’s essential to understand the real Swedish midsummer (midsommar), one of the country’s most beloved holidays. Unlike the sinister portrayal in the movie, the actual celebration is a joyous, family-oriented event deeply tied to nature, fertility, and the summer solstice.
1. The Origins of Midsummer in Nordic Paganism
Midsummer has pre-Christian roots, originally celebrated as a pagan festival honoring the sun’s power at its peak. In Norse mythology, the solstice was associated with:
- Baldur, the god of light and purity, whose death and rebirth symbolized the cyclical nature of life.
- Freyr, the god of fertility, harvest, and prosperity, often invoked for blessings during the growing season.
- The Wild Hunt, a folkloric belief that spirits and supernatural beings roamed the earth during solstice nights.
When Christianity spread across Scandinavia, many pagan traditions were absorbed into the celebration of St. John’s Eve (June 23–24), blending old and new customs.
2. Modern Swedish Midsummer Traditions
Today, Swedish midsummer is a national holiday marked by:
- Maypole Dancing (midsommarstången) – A central symbol, the maypole is a tall pole decorated with greenery and flowers, around which people dance in circles while singing traditional songs. Unlike the film’s eerie version, real maypole dances are playful and inclusive.
- Flower Crowns – Worn by women and girls, these crowns symbolize fertility and the beauty of nature. In the movie, Florence Pugh’s character, Dani, is crowned the May Queen—a role that takes a dark turn.
- Feasting on Traditional Foods – Herring, new potatoes with dill, strawberries, and gravlax (cured salmon) are staples. The film’s communal meal, while accurate in spirit, omits the festive, non-violent atmosphere.
- Bonfires – Lit to ward off evil spirits, a tradition with roots in both pagan and Christian beliefs. The movie’s bonfire scene, however, serves a far more ominous purpose.
- Gathering Wildflowers – Young girls pick seven types of flowers to place under their pillows, dreaming of their future husbands—a charming custom absent from the film’s narrative.
While Midsommar borrows these elements, it distorts them into something sinister. The real midsummer is about community, renewal, and joy—not isolation, drugs, or sacrifice.
Where Midsommar Takes Creative Liberties: Fiction vs. Reality
Ari Aster didn’t set out to document Swedish culture accurately. Instead, he used real traditions as a foundation to build a nightmarish cult. Below, we break down the film’s most shocking rituals and separate fact from fiction.
1. The Hårga Commune: A Fictional Cult with Real Inspirations
The film’s Hårga (or Harga) is a fictional cult, but it draws from:
- Historical Swedish Cults – While no exact equivalent exists, Sweden has had isolated religious movements, such as the Läsare (Readers) of the 19th century, who rejected state church authority.
- Sami Shamanism – The indigenous Sami people of northern Scandinavia practiced rituals involving hallucinogenic plants (like the amanita muscaria mushroom), which may have inspired the film’s drug-induced visions.
- Folk Horror Tropes – The Hårga’s insular, agrarian lifestyle mirrors classic folk horror (e.g., The Wicker Man), where rural communities hide dark secrets.
Reality Check: Sweden has no recorded history of midsummer human sacrifices or cults like the Hårga. The closest historical parallel is the Viking-era blót (sacrificial feasts), but these were not tied to midsummer and involved animals, not humans.
2. The Ättestupa: Elder Suicide in Nordic Folklore?
One of the film’s most shocking scenes depicts an elderly couple leaping from a cliff (ättestupa) to their deaths, cheered on by the community. This ritual is often cited as a real Viking tradition—but is it?
- Myth Debunked: The idea of ättestupa (Old Norse for "clan cliff") as a widespread practice is largely a 19th-century romanticization. While some sagas mention elders choosing to die rather than burden their families, there’s no archaeological or historical evidence of systematic elder sacrifice.
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Possible Origins: The concept may stem from:
- Misinterpretations of Viking burial sites near cliffs.
- Folktales like The Saga of the Volsungs, where characters meet dramatic ends.
- Christian propaganda portraying pagans as barbaric.
Reality Check: The ättestupa in Midsommar is pure fiction, though it plays on the dark fascination with Viking "savage" stereotypes.
3. The May Queen: From Fertility Symbol to Horror Icon
The crowning of Dani as the May Queen is one of the film’s most iconic moments. But how does this compare to real traditions?
- Real May Queens: In Sweden and other European countries, the May Queen is a symbolic figure representing spring and fertility. She’s often chosen for her beauty or virtue and leads dances—not as a vessel for emotional trauma or cult worship.
- Folkloric Roots: The May Queen traces back to pre-Christian fertility goddesses like Nerthus (a Germanic earth goddess) and Freya (Norse goddess of love and war).
- Film’s Twist: Aster subverts the tradition by making Dani’s crowning a moment of psychological breakdown, not celebration. Her screams are later mimicked by the cult—a chilling perversion of communal joy.
Reality Check: The May Queen is real, but her role in Midsommar is a horror exaggeration.
4. Hallucinogenic Rituals: Did Vikings Use Psychedelic Drugs?
The Hårga’s use of psychedelic mushrooms and teas to induce visions is one of the film’s most surreal elements. But is there any truth to this?
- Sami Shamanism & Amanita Muscaria: The indigenous Sami people of northern Scandinavia historically used the amanita muscaria (fly agaric) mushroom in rituals. Vikings may have encountered it through trade or raids.
- Berserkers & Battle Trance: Some theories suggest Viking berserkers (frenzied warriors) consumed hallucinogens to enter a battle trance, though evidence is scarce.
- Modern Swedish Drug Culture: Sweden has strict drug laws, and psychedelic use in rituals is not part of mainstream midsummer celebrations.
Reality Check: While psychedelic use in Nordic shamanism has some basis, the Hårga’s organized, cult-like drug rituals are fictional.
5. Blood Eagle & Human Sacrifice: Viking Myth vs. Movie Horror
The film’s climax involves a graphic human sacrifice reminiscent of the blood eagle, a brutal Viking execution method. But how accurate is this?
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The Blood Eagle in Sagas: Described in texts like the Orkneyinga Saga, the blood eagle involved cutting a victim’s back, breaking their ribs, and pulling out their lungs to resemble "wings." However:
- Most historians believe it was poetic exaggeration, not a common practice.
- No archaeological evidence confirms its existence.
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Viking Sacrifices: While Vikings did practice animal and (rarely) human sacrifice, it was typically:
- Reserved for major religious events (e.g., the temple at Uppsala).
- Not tied to midsummer.
- Often involved slaves or prisoners, not willing community members.
Reality Check: The blood eagle and midsummer human sacrifice in Midsommar are dramatic inventions, not historical facts.
The Psychological Horror Behind the Rituals: Why Midsommar Feels So Real
Even though many of the film’s rituals are fictional, Midsommar feels eerily plausible because Ari Aster taps into:
1. The Uncanny Valley of Folk Horror
Folk horror thrives on taking familiar traditions and twisting them into something unsettling. By using real Swedish customs (maypoles, flower crowns) as a backdrop for horror, Aster creates a sense of cognitive dissonance—the audience recognizes the elements but feels their corruption.
2. The Isolation of the Swedish Countryside
Sweden’s vast, sparsely populated forests and remote villages have long been a setting for folklore about:
- Huldra (seductive forest spirits).
- Trolls and vättar (nature spirits).
- The Skogsrå (a guardian of the woods who lures travelers to their doom).
The Hårga’s secluded commune plays on the fear of getting lost in the wilderness, a common theme in Scandinavian tales.
3. The Distortion of Communal Joy
Real midsummer is about togetherness—singing, dancing, and feasting. The Hårga perverts this into forced conformity and emotional manipulation. Dani’s trauma is exploited by the cult, mirroring how real cults use isolation and ritual to control members.
4. The Power of the Sun
The film’s setting—24-hour daylight—is real in northern Sweden during summer. This phenomenon, known as the midnight sun, can disorient visitors, blurring the line between day and night. Aster uses this to heighten the surreal, dreamlike horror.
What Swedish People Think About Midsommar
The film’s portrayal of Sweden sparked mixed reactions among Swedes:
- Pride in Cultural Representation: Some appreciated seeing Swedish traditions (however distorted) in a major Hollywood film.
- Frustration Over Stereotypes: Many Swedes criticized the film for reinforcing the "weird Scandinavian" trope, ignoring modern Swedish society.
- Dark Humor: Some embraced the absurdity, joking about "accidentally joining a cult" during midsummer.
- Tourism Impact: Surprisingly, the film boosted interest in Swedish midsummer festivals, with some tourists visiting to experience the "real" (non-murderous) version.
Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund (The Square) called Midsommar "a great American interpretation of Sweden," acknowledging its creative liberties while noting it’s not a documentary.
Real Nordic Rituals That Are Just as Strange (But Less Deadly)
If you’re fascinated by the eerie side of Nordic traditions, here are some real (but non-lethal) customs that might surprise you:
1. The Yule Goat (Julbock)
A Christmas tradition where a goat made of straw is displayed (and sometimes burned). Its origins trace back to:
- The Norse god Thor, who rode a chariot pulled by goats.
- Pagan Yule celebrations involving goat sacrifices (later replaced by straw effigies).
2. Surströmming (Fermented Herring)
A Swedish delicacy so pungent it’s often eaten outdoors. The fermentation process dates back to the 16th century when preserving fish was essential for survival.
3. Walpurgis Night (Valborg)
Celebrated on April 30, this festival involves:
- Bonfires to ward off witches (believed to fly to the Brocken mountain in Germany).
- Student choirs singing traditional songs.
- Drinking snaps (aquavit) and eating sill (pickled herring).
4. The Midsummer "Magic" of Love Divination
Young women in Sweden and Finland once practiced:
- Picking seven flowers and placing them under their pillow to dream of their future husband.
- Rolling naked in the dew at dawn for beauty and luck in love.
- Jumping over bonfires for fertility blessings.
5. The Sami Noaidi (Shamans)
The indigenous Sami people had (and in some cases, still have) shamans who:
- Used drums (runebomme) to enter trance states.
- Communicated with spirits to heal or predict the future.
- Were persecuted during Christianization, leading to the loss of many traditions.
Conclusion: Midsommar as a Dark Mirror of Nordic Tradition
Ari Aster’s Midsommar is not a documentary, nor does it claim to be. Instead, it’s a
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