This week, we’re focusing on telling a story with photos. Sometimes, if we’re lucky, we can convey a story in one image; other times we need several. For this challenge, there is a limit of 5 photos per story.
My two stories are both from last weekend. Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day.
I believe they speak for themselves – without pictures of the young couple. Of all the games we played that day, the most precious one is catching the bridal bouquet. I don’t know about the custom in other countries, but in Sweden, catching it means you are the next one to get married!
Dancing around the maypole and playing games is always a treat for both young and old.
These pictures show Björnen sover, a singing game, used both as a round dance and a children’s song. The tune is a simplified version of the one used for Gubben Noak, published by Carl Michael Bellman, published in Songs of Fredman in 1792. According to Wikipedia, still today research hasn’t proved if Bellman wrote the tune or not. Since it became famous, the tune has been used for several different lyrics in the centuries since Bellman, including many children’s songs.
The game
- One person is appointed bear, taking cover and pretending to sleep (in the middle).
- Other participants walk around the ”bear” in a ring, singing Björnen sover (”the bear is sleeping”).
- At the end of the song, the bear ”wakes up”, and begins to chase the other participants.
- When someone is caught, he or she will become the ”bear” the next time. (as you can understand, in the end they will all be bears)
Because Russia and the USSR sometimes have been called the Russian Bear the term björnen sover (”the bear sleeps”) has in Swedish sometimes referred to times in international politics when Russia has attracted less attention, but not everyone is trusting them.
So, now it is your turn to tell a story in 1 to 5 photos. The story you tell is totally up to you. Document for example an event you liked, a meal you enjoyed or a visit to a favorite place. Share a photo that conveys an emotion, and show us a memory of a place, time or person. In your post, be sure to include the Lens-Artists tag and a link to Patti’s original post.
Last week Tina invited us to share photos of Spiritual Places. A special thanks to Tina for her inspiring theme, which generated your marvelous posts. I was especially touched by the images that honored Bren, a wonderful creative artist who recently died from cancer.
Now, a special announcement. We’re very pleased to tell you that once again 5 very talented photographers have accepted our invitation to host our July “Month of Guest Hosts” here at Lens-Artists. Be sure to visit their unique sites each week as they explore the following topics:
- July 1 Ritva Sillanmaki asks us to explore INSPIRATION FOUND IN THE KITCHEN.
- July 8 Philo of Philosophy Through Photography looks at SIMPLICITY.
- July 15 Dawn Miller of The Day After leads with FENCES.
- July 22 Dan Fenner of Departing in 5 Minutes invites us to join his UNBOUND SUMMER.
- July 29 Janet Webb of This That and The Other Thing will explore OVERLOOKED.
In August, the Lens-Artists team will be back. I, Ann-Christine, will be your host on Saturday, August 5. Look for my post on Leya at noon ET. And by then, this hectic time will be over and I am free to do some inspired blogging again. In the meantime, I am hoping that your July is relaxing and filled with inspiration for the July topics!
Interested in joining the Lens-Artists challenge? Click here for more information.
Leya 
So much joy on your post, it does feel like celebrating and summer. I really enjoyed reading about your ttraditions too. Wonderful post.
I am pleased you liked it, Sofia! Thank you.
Enjoy reading the stories, AC! You captured the joy and fun time of celebration. I love it!!
Thank you, Amy!
Wonderful, happy stories Ann-Christine, the first two images are so lovely. Each of your images represents joy this week and what could be better than that?!
Thank you, Tina – joy is what we all need, so if they represents joy – I am happy!
Love it!
Capturing the bouquet means the same here, that is why I stand in the back.
Haha, well, if I didn’t have my husband, I would not go for a new one…
Looks like a fabulous celebration
♥ Thank you!
Welcome
Great selections. 👏
Thank you!
Fabulous storytelling through your photos. 😀 😀
You are always kind, Cee, thanks you!
What a wonderful wedding sequence! Throwing the bouquet is the same in the U.S.
Thank you, Anne – it seems that custom is the same in many places!
😊
Lovely stories indeed, Ann-Christine. I remember hearing how huge the midsommar celebrations in Sweden are so it is fun to catch a glimpse of it on this blog. Here’s wishing you sunny days and warm nights ahead.
Thank you so much, Sheetal! Hoping you will have a great summer – not too hot!
Aha! The summers are scorching in India but the rains are already here:)
♥
The table steering, the smiles, the laughter and the gathering of family and friends tell a grand story. I haven’t seen a maypole dance in a long time. That brought a smile to my face thinking of the memories of days past. A lovely, and creative post, AC
Thank you, Donna – luckily this theme coincided with two stories!
Yes! Nice when that can fall into place.
Your stories remind me of a story that I could have told for my post, another wedding. I’ll save them for another go-around, Ann-Christine.
Looking forward to seeing them!
dear Ann-Christine
a couple of weeks ago we read ”Secret Knowledge” by David Hockney. He thinks that telling a story with a picture needs several focusing points that eye of the onlooker wanders from one to the other and so the dimension of time is produced and by this a story. As long as we have an onedimensional focusing point there is no story.
We like your series of pictures of the Swedish traditions that reminds us on our time in Skåne.
Thanks for sharing and all the best
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you for interesting information, and it sounds right too. Glad you enjoyed the series!
Great stories, Ann-Christine. The idea with the bridal bouquet is the same in Germany as well as the sleeping Russian bear.
Ah, thank you – I would have guessed!
😊
Great stories. Yes, catching the bouquet is the same here (and rarely works 😉 ). And our bear game is similar, but with a wolf. I can’t come up with a photo story, so well done.
Thank you, Margaret, I saw some more comments where they had a wolf too. Fun how so many customs are the same.
I love these celebrations, Ann-Christine! Old fashioned customs like this are wonderful to be a part of. I hope the lady has a groom in mind? And I always hated to be ‘bear’. Wishing you a peaceful summer in which to enjoy your long days in nature. Sending hugs!
Hugs back, Jo! And yes, I too HATED being the bear…Cheers!
Two lovely stories, A-C. Catching the bouquet means the same in the US as in Sweden. I read ”björnen sover” and realized that except for the marking above the ”o”, it’s the same as in Norwegian so I knew what it meant and I also knew about the connection with Russia. 🙂
🙂 Thank you, Janet!