Sveriges Nationaldag – Happy Sweden Day!

Today, the 6th of June, is the national day of Sweden. Traditionally not something us Swedes would celebrate to any real extent, as we are not commonly known to be very patriotic, but still a reminder of the fact that we are Swedish and that we have a long and glorious history… or just another reason to throw a party! :)

When I grew up, Sweden Day was not a holiday and we did not get time off from school and the only real patriotic demonstration during the day was that the janitor would raise the Swedish flag out in the courtyard, so I am not overly excited that it is Sweden day, but I am glad that we are at least trying to better ourselves with some kind of celebration of our heritage.

We still have ways to go before we are at the level where our neighbors to the left, the Norwegians, are with their ‘Syttene Mai’ and we are nowhere near the yanks with their 4th of July!

Once again, I have nicked a bit of useful trivia from Wikipedia:

The tradition of celebrating this date began 1916 at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium, in honour of the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523, as this was considered the foundation of modern Sweden.

Some question the validity of this as a national holiday, as it was not observed as a holiday until decades later. However this event does signify the end of the Danish-ruled Kalmar Union, so in a sense it is a marking of Swedish independence, though the event occurred so long ago that it does not have as strong of a presence in the social consciousness as does, for example, Norway's Syttende Mai (17th of may).

In 2005 it became an official Swedish public holiday, taking that honour from Whit Monday. This change led to fewer days off from work (more working-days) as the 6th of June will periodically fall on the weekend, unlike Whit Monday, which was always celebrated on a Monday.


The Swedish national anthem lyrics:

1
Du gamla, Du fria, Du fjällhöga nord
Du tysta, Du glädjerika sköna!
Jag hälsar Dig, vänaste land uppå jord,
/: Din sol, Din himmel, Dina ängder gröna.:/

2
Du tronar på minnen från fornstora dar,
då ärat Ditt namn flög över jorden.
Jag vet att Du är och Du blir vad Du var.
/: Ja, jag vill leva jag vill dö i Norden.:/

Literal translation:

1
You ancient, you free, you mountainous North
You quiet, you joyful beauty!
I greet you, most beautiful land upon earth,
/:Your sun, Your sky, Your meadows green.:/

2
You throne upon memories of great olden days,
When honored your name flew over the world,
I know that you are and will be as you were,
/: Yes, I want to live I want to die in the North :/