In June 2022, after a two-and-a-half-year COVID-19 hiatus, I joyfully returned to Europe for a research trip. My purpose was to develop further my next monograph on queering animal symbols, specifically investigating the history of the Dalecarlian (Dala) horse [Dalahäst]. Dala horses are brightly painted wooden toys that were carved and decorated by farmers through the long Swedish winters as early as the seventeenth century. Thereafter, Dala horses became a national icon and symbol of Sweden at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City. Scheduling also allowed me to attend Midsommar (Midsummer) celebrations in Dalarna (Dalecarlia) County,1 Sweden (Fig. 1). This is the region not only where Dala horses first appeared, but also where many of the traditions surrounding the folkloric, highly theatrical, and now de facto Swedish national holiday of Midsommar most likely originated.

中文翻译：

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仲夏夜表演：瑞典民族主义、民俗盛典和象征分歧的政治力量

2022 年 6 月，在因新冠肺炎 (COVID-19) 疫情中断两年半之后，我满心欢喜地回到欧洲进行研究旅行。我的目的是进一步开发我的下一本关于酷儿动物符号的专着，专门研究达勒卡利安（Dal​​a）马的历史[达拉赫斯特]。达拉马是一种色彩鲜艳的木制玩具，早在十七世纪，农民们就在瑞典漫长的冬季里雕刻和装饰。此后，达拉马在 1939 年纽约世界博览会上成为瑞典的国家象征和象征。日程安排还允许我参加达拉纳（Dalecarlia）县的仲夏节（Midsommar）庆祝活动，1瑞典（图1）。这里不仅是达拉马首次出现的地区，而且也是围绕着民俗、高度戏剧化、如今事实上的瑞典国庆节仲夏节的许多传统最有可能起源的地方。