On Midsummer Night, Monday, 23 June at 21:30, the Reykjavík City Museum and Elliðaárstöð invite you to an informative nature walk in Elliðaárdalur. The walk will be led by environmental folklorist Björk Bjarnadóttir. The walk begins at Árbær Open Air Museum and continues down through Elliðaárdalur. Along the way, there will be stops at selected locations where stories will be told, Icelandic folklore discussed, and the powerful herbs growing in the area explored. The walk ends at Elliðaárstöð, where guests can enjoy herbal tea and warm up with a hot drink. Spoken language is Icelandic. Midsummer Night is associated with tales of supernatural beings, as it was believed that on this night the veil between worlds was thinner than on most other nights. There is a well-known belief in the healing power of the dew, with people rolling naked in it in hopes of gaining health, and the hope of finding magical stones on this night. It is also believed that seals shed their skins and dance as naked humans along the shores of Iceland. As proof of this, people avoided setting fishing nets on Midsummer Night out of fear of catching a seal maiden. In Iceland, Midsummer has always had a different character than in southern Europe, where it is primarily a celebration. There, bonfires and dances were common, often associated with supernatural beings, witches, and devils. However, Iceland’s natural conditions, livelihoods, and social structures prevented Midsummer from becoming as prominent a celebration. The country’s sparse population made gatherings difficult, and the lack of forests meant there was little opportunity to build large bonfires with accompanying singing and dancing. Meeting point is at the entrance of Árbær Open Air Museum and the duration of the walk is approximately 1,5 to 2 hours. Participation is free. Everyone is welcome!