Why we celebrate national day in Sweden

On June 6th, we celebrate Sweden's National Day, a day filled with historical significance and celebrated throughout the country.

» Updated: October 07 2024

» Published: June 03 2024

Why we celebrate national day in Sweden
Photo: MJ

National Day has evolved from being a flag day to an official holiday in 2005. But why do we celebrate this day?

The History Behind National Day National Day is celebrated in memory of two significant historical events. Firstly, Gustav Vasa was elected King of Sweden on June 6th, 1523, marking the beginning of an independent Swedish state. Secondly, the 1809 Instrument of Government was adopted on June 6th, a significant constitutional law that laid the foundation for modern Sweden.

It wasn't until 1983 that the day officially became Sweden's National Day, and from 2005, it also became a public holiday [1]. The decision to make National Day a public holiday was motivated, among other things, to give the day greater significance and to many immigrants being surprised that Swedes did not celebrate their national day more prominently.

Swedes' view on National Day It is well-known that Swedes generally are not particularly nationalist, and National Day is not celebrated with the same intensity as in many other countries. Many believe that this is due to the loose historical connection to the day [2].

Food on National Day unlike other Swedish holidays like Christmas and Midsummer, National Day has no specific food tradition. If you have a celebration party. it's common to have a "smörgåsbord" and similar dishes such as fresh potatoes with herbs, herring, eggs, salmon, crispbread, and strawberries. Many also choose to have a picnic or barbecue. Another popular tradition is to enjoy a National Day cake.

Read more: Royal familly is scaling down on National day celebrations

Come on and celebrate Sweden's national day 6 June a community and pride in Sweden's development and values!

SH LifestyleS
By SH LifestyleWrites about topics that can be of interest living in Sweden

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