Jo joutui armas aika - Joyous summer days

NB The photos of this post have been taken in our garden in Italy, not in Finland.

The wilderness pastures drip with dew,

and the hills wrap themselves with joy.

The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,

and the valleys are covered with grain.

They shout for joy;

yes, they burst out in song!

Psalm 65: 12 - 13 (International Standard Version)

I was recently telling to a Canadian friend how in this part of the world (Eastern Finland) spring usually reaches its maximum splendour in the last days of May, at the end of the school year...

There's a Swedish summertime hymn titled "Den blomstertid nu kommer" (literally: "Now the time of blossoming arrives", in Finnish simply "Suvivirsi") that is traditionally sung at the Spring Fete. Below there are the first three verses of the hymn in Finnish. I don't try to translate them in English, because my translation wouldn't do justice to the text.

Imagine that after a dark and cold winter summer bursts into bloom and the freedom of summer holidays is upon you. The world is full of fresh green foliage and flowers and sunlight and bird song. For many of us, "Suvivirsi" symbolizes the memory of those moments filled with joy and gratitude ... and few adults can listen to the hymn (especially when sung by a child choir) with dry eyes.

1. Jo joutui armas aika

ja suvi suloinen.

Kauniisti joka paikkaa

koristaa kukkanen.

Nyt siunaustaan suopi

taas lämpö auringon,

se luonnon uudeks' luopi,

sen kutsuu elohon.

2. Taas niityt vihannoivat

ja laiho laaksossa,

puut metsän huminoivat

taas lehtiverhossa.

Se meille muistuttaapi

hyvyyttäs', Jumala,

ihmeitäs' julistaapi

se vuosi vuodelta.

3. Taas linnut laulujansa

visertää kauniisti,

myös eikö Herran kansa

Luojaansa kiittäisi!

Mun sieluni, sä liitä

myös äänes' kuorohon

ja armon Herraa kiitä,

kun laupias hän on.

Participating in Mosaic Monday

at Judith's Lavender Cottage.

I am very happy to join Donna at Gardens Eye View

 for the Seasonal Celebrations meme.

Visiting her blog you can read about summer serenity and childhood memories 

and, on June 22, find links to other lovely blogs celebrating summer.

♥

Participating also in

Stephanie's Roses of Inspiration.

♥

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my posts. They make me very happy. 

I've had very busy days recently and haven't visited everyone yet, but I will do it as soon as I can.

Wishing you beautiful and happy summer days.

Hugs!