The traditional decorated pole raised during Swedish Midsummer celebrations is called a midsommarstång.
The Swedish word combines midsommar, meaning Midsummer, with stång, meaning pole or rod. Communities usually decorate the pole with greenery and flowers before raising it, after which people dance around it and sing traditional songs. Its crossbar and hanging decorations give it a distinctive appearance.
Swedish Midsummer is celebrated on the Friday and Saturday occurring between June 19 and June 25, with Midsummer Eve being the main social occasion. The festival is associated with countryside gatherings, flower wreaths, seasonal foods and dancing.
A common mix-up is calling the pole a maypole in English. Although maypole is an understandable translation, the Swedish cultural term is midsommarstång, and the celebration occurs in June rather than in May.