‘Midsommar’ unexpectedly made flower crowns trendy again, but more evil

Remember when people wore flower crowns at every music festival between 2014 and 2015? Most would credit Coachella for its rise in popularity. To quote E! News: “[It’s] become so popular that it’s hard to envision a Coachella outfit without a flower crown.”

The trend extended to Snapchat, becoming one of the most popular filters next to the dog and “puking rainbow” ones. Sure, some people gave it a bad rap for looking “too girly” or the fact it’s a “try-hard aesthetic.” But there are still those who love to wear it even when the trend eventually died down.

But all that’s changed with the premiere of Ari Aster’s horror film, Midsommar. The movie revolves around dysfunctional couple, Dani and Christian, who goes to a midsummer festival in Sweden with their friends. Their carefree holiday takes a horrific turn when they find out what really goes on in the village they’re staying at. The movie is also considered a story about enduring and freeing oneself from emotionally abusive relationships.

Take note: This was made by the same man who made Hereditary, which was named one of the scariest movies of 2018. Even though Midsommar didn’t get the same ratings as its predecessor (it got six percent less according to Rotten Tomatoes), viewers still noted how messed up it was, and even sharing fan art and looks inspired by the film.

Because of this, the flower crown, which was worn by the maypole-dancing women in the film, was resurrected. You can now see more people wearing the accessory again to pay homage to Midsommar.

But also, thanks to Midsommar and the myths that inspired the film, we’re never looking at flower crowns the same way again.

What the accessory signifies in history and in the film

Midsommar was inspired by “May Day,” an ancient holiday celebrated around Europe during spring to commemorate fertility and welcome the warm weather. During this occasion, a May Queen is elected to be the symbol of purity and fertility in a village. When one is chosen, she is dressed in a white dress, a cape, and a flower crown.

But why was this accessory considered evil? It technically wasn’t. SYFY Wire explained it was often used in Pagan rituals, and wearing a flower crown was seen as blasphemous during the Medieval Age. It made a comeback in the Victorian Age when young girls would wear it.