Denmark’s traditional midsummer party, Sankt Hans Aften, involves speeches, songs, a bonfire and the casting of a witch figure into the flames. This last part has recently become unfashionable. Perhaps a new ritual, that celebrates connectedness and shared nature rather than femicide is needed.

With support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, in collaboration with Grundejerforening Ørstad we made an installation at the Sankt Hans event to replace the witch burning with ‘the bees’ magical midsummer wishing tree’.

The installation was a twisted piece of willow tree. We asked participants to ‘tell the bees’ about their dreams for the future of the neighbourhood and the relationships that they value within it. The messages were tied to the tree with colourful cloth. Each participant received a glass of honey from the local bees, but the honey came with conditions: Share with one you care for. Plant a flower to thank the bees.

These being modern bees, they had a telephone number. The messages were collected and archived, before the wishing tree was ceremonially carried a cross the gathering and burned on the midsummer fire.