Boxing Day 2024 marks 20 years since the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean, when nearly 230,000 people died, including 543 Swedes. At 4 pm, a national memorial service was held at Uppsala Cathedral for the victims of the natural disaster.
For some, it has been a long time and the light has once again shone in their lives. Others wake up every day with memories from December 26, 2004. Not everyone in their surroundings can or dares to understand, said Martin Modéus, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, who led the memorial service.
Among those present were, among others, survivors, relatives, the royal couple, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) and Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlén (M). The ceremony included both hymns and speeches.
King Carl XVI Gustaf gave a famous speech for the tsunami victims at a ceremony in 2005. During the memorial service on Boxing Day, he did not stand at the podium but was instead one of those who lit candles in memory of the victims together with Queen Silvia.
