In the Nordic countries, flowers are more than mere decorations—they're deeply woven into the cultural fabric, marking seasonal transitions, celebrating important life events, and connecting people to the natural world. As a Swedish florist with roots stretching back generations, I've been immersed in these traditions throughout my life and career.
Today, I'd like to take you on a journey through the rich floral heritage of the Nordic region, exploring how these traditions continue to influence contemporary Swedish floral design and our work at Bloom & Petal.
The Midsummer Crown: A Symbol of Summer Celebration
Perhaps the most iconic Nordic floral tradition is the midsummer flower crown, or "blomsterkrans." As the summer solstice approaches in late June, Swedes begin gathering wildflowers to create these circular wreaths, worn during Midsummer celebrations.
Traditionally, young women would place seven different types of flowers under their pillows on Midsummer Eve, hoping to dream of their future spouse. Today, the creation of flower crowns remains a beloved activity during midsummer festivities, with everyone from children to grandparents participating.
The flowers typically used include:
- Daisies (prästkrage) – representing innocence
- Cornflowers (blåklint) – Sweden's national flower
- Red clover (rödklöver) – symbolizing prosperity
- Buttercups (smörblomma) – signifying joy
- Wild grasses – adding movement and texture
Modern Swedish floral design often references this tradition through the use of wildflower-inspired arrangements that appear freshly gathered, even when created for formal occasions.
The Lucia Crown: Winter's Floral Light
While summer brings an abundance of fresh blooms, winter has its own distinctive floral tradition in the form of the Lucia crown. On December 13th, Swedes celebrate St. Lucia Day, when young girls wear crowns of lingonberry leaves and candles (now often electric for safety) to symbolize bringing light into the darkest time of year.
Traditionally, these crowns were made with lingonberry branches (lingon) because they remain green through winter, representing life continuing even in darkness. Modern interpretations sometimes incorporate other evergreen materials like eucalyptus, pine, or boxwood, often accented with white flowers symbolizing purity and light.
This tradition teaches an important lesson in Nordic floral design: working with what's available seasonally and finding beauty in simplicity. During the long Nordic winter, florists historically relied on evergreens, berries, and dried materials to create natural decorations—a practice that has come full circle as sustainability concerns bring renewed interest in seasonal designing.
The "Seven Sorts": Celebration Flowers
In traditional Swedish homes, important celebrations called for "seven sorts" (sju sorter) of pastries or cookies. This same concept was often applied to flower arrangements for special occasions, with seven different types of blooms representing completeness and good fortune.
These celebration bouquets traditionally included:
- A fragrant element (like lily of the valley or jasmine)
- A structural element (like branches or tall stems)
- A focal flower (often a rose or peony)
- Filler flowers for texture
- Foliage in varying shades of green
- A seasonal wild element
- Something unexpected or personal to the recipient
This tradition remains influential in Swedish floral design through our emphasis on varied textures and elements that create complex visual interest, even in seemingly simple arrangements.
Påskris: Easter Branches
One of the most distinctive Nordic floral traditions is "påskris" – decorated birch branches that appear in Swedish homes as Easter approaches. These branches are adorned with colorful feathers, small painted wooden eggs, and sometimes paper decorations.
The tradition dates back to an old practice where people would lightly "whip" each other with birch twigs on Good Friday as a reminder of Christ's suffering. Over time, this evolved into the more cheerful tradition we know today, symbolizing the arrival of spring.
The aesthetic influence of påskris can be seen in contemporary Nordic floral design through the incorporation of branches and architectural elements, often used to create height and structure in arrangements.
Forest Floor Aesthetics
The Nordic forest floor, with its mosses, lichens, mushrooms, and small woodland flowers, has profoundly influenced regional floral design. Traditionally, Swedes would gather moss from the forest to create miniature landscapes or "mossarium" displays during winter months, bringing a piece of nature indoors during the coldest season.
This appreciation for the humble beauty of forest elements continues in contemporary Swedish floral design through:
- The incorporation of moss, lichen, and bark in arrangements
- Appreciation for small, delicate woodland flowers
- The use of mushrooms, berries, and seed pods as decorative elements
- Arrangements that mimic the natural clustering of plants in forest settings
At Bloom & Petal, we often incorporate these elements into our autumn and winter arrangements, creating textural designs that evoke walks through Swedish forests.
The Influence of "Lagom"
No discussion of Nordic floral traditions would be complete without mentioning "lagom" – the Swedish concept of "not too much, not too little, just right." This philosophy permeates Swedish culture and strongly influences our approach to floral design.
In practical terms, lagom in floristry means:
- Carefully edited arrangements that avoid both sparseness and excess
- A focus on quality over quantity
- Balance between structure and natural movement
- Respect for each flower's natural form and growth pattern
- Sustainable practices that avoid waste
This concept has become increasingly relevant in contemporary floral design worldwide, as more designers embrace thoughtful restraint and sustainability.
From Folk Art to Modern Minimalism
Traditional Swedish folk art, with its distinctive painted floral motifs, offers another window into Nordic floral aesthetics. These stylized interpretations of local flowers—often roses, tulips, and carnations—appear on everything from furniture to textiles.
While these designs might seem at odds with Sweden's reputation for minimalism, they share common elements: a focus on essential forms, balanced composition, and the elevation of natural beauty.
Contemporary Swedish floral design often bridges these traditions, creating arrangements that honor folk sensibilities through the use of traditional flower varieties while embracing modern simplicity in their composition.
Seasonal Rhythm and Celebration
Perhaps the most fundamental aspect of Nordic floral tradition is its strong connection to seasonal rhythms. In a region with dramatic seasonal shifts, flowers mark the passage of time and give each season its distinctive character:
- Spring: Snowdrops, crocuses, and daffodils announce winter's end, followed by cherry blossoms, tulips, and lily of the valley
- Summer: Midsummer wildflowers give way to roses, peonies, and dahlias as summer progresses
- Autumn: Chrysanthemums, asters, and ornamental berries complement the changing leaves
- Winter: Amaryllis, hyacinths, and evergreens bring color and fragrance to the darkest months
This seasonal awareness is central to Swedish floral design philosophy. Rather than fighting against nature's rhythms by demanding out-of-season blooms, we celebrate what each season offers, creating designs that feel harmonious with the world outside our windows.
Contemporary Expressions of Nordic Tradition
Today's Swedish florists continue to draw inspiration from these cultural traditions while reinterpreting them for contemporary sensibilities. At Bloom & Petal, we honor these traditions through:
- Our "Nordic Wildflowers" collection, which references midsummer crown traditions
- Winter arrangements that incorporate forest elements and candlelight
- Strictly seasonal offerings that celebrate each moment in Sweden's natural calendar
- Wedding designs that blend traditional Swedish elements with contemporary aesthetics
- Sustainable practices that connect to the Nordic tradition of respecting nature
The Global Influence of Nordic Floral Design
In recent years, Nordic floral aesthetics have gained international recognition and influence. The emphasis on seasonal materials, natural forms, thoughtful restraint, and sustainability resonates with contemporary values worldwide.
Key elements of Nordic floral design that have been embraced globally include:
- Arrangements that appear freshly gathered, with natural movement and form
- The incorporation of unexpected elements like branches, berries, and grasses
- A focus on texture and subtle color variations
- Sustainable mechanics and materials
- Designs that enhance rather than dominate their surroundings
Preserving Tradition Through Innovation
As we look to the future, Swedish florists find themselves in a unique position—serving as both custodians of rich traditions and innovators creating new expressions of Nordic floral culture.
At Bloom & Petal, we believe that the most meaningful way to honor tradition is not through rigid adherence to historical practices, but through thoughtful evolution that preserves core values while responding to contemporary needs and challenges.
By continuing to celebrate seasonal rhythms, emphasize connection to our local landscape, and practice thoughtful restraint in our designs, we carry forward the essence of Nordic floral traditions for future generations to enjoy and reinterpret in their turn.
The next time you receive or create a floral arrangement, consider how it might reflect not just aesthetic preferences but cultural values and traditions that connect us to our shared human history of celebrating nature's beauty.
