Exile Swedes Celebrate Midsummer in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, June 25 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- One part of Sweden is present in Shanghai, and that is of course the Swedish pavilion at Expo 2010. At midsummer, one of the Swede's most beloved traditional celebrations will be held here, Swedish style.

-- I think it is great that we can celebrate our Swedish traditions here

in the pavilion. Midsummer is something that means a lot to many Swedes

and personally it is one of my favorite times a year, says Annika Rembe,

Commissioner General at the Swedish pavilion

During this day, the Swedish pavilion will be decorated by Mr. Gunnar Kaj, Sweden's most famous floral designer who decorated Nobel Prize banquets nine times in a row, together with his florist Ms. Elaine Jansson. They will turn the pavilion into an ocean of flowers, binding garlands and daisy-chains and together with some Swedish volunteers talk about the wonders of midsummer traditions in Sweden.

-- According to old sayings, nature was full of supernatural powers

during midsummer. To collect all this powerful magic in a daisy-chain

was thought to give strength and luck for the future. That is a

tradition we want to bring to Shanghai, says Gunnar Kaj.

Expo 2010 in Shanghai opened May 1st and so far there have been almost 17 million visitors to the area. The Swedish pavilion has had more than 650,000 visitors since the inauguration, giving an average of 15,000 visitors per day.

For more information please visit: http://www.swedenexpo.cn