There are several public holidays in Sweden that are celebrated every year. You will find that the Parliament has named these holidays as official and they can be divided into two categories. There are non Christian holidays and Christian holidays that are celebrated. You will find that Sunday's are even considered to be official holidays, but they are not considered as important to celebrate or close down shops as the other holidays that are celebrated. You will find that the week in Sweden for working was changed to a forty hour week, were the Saturday's became secondary holidays. There are several holidays that are given special attention in Sweden including new years, Epiphany, Good Friday. Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, May Day, Ascension Day, Whitsunday, National Day, Midsummer's Day, All Saints Day, Christmas and Boxing Day. Other holiday's that are also going to be celebrated include Midsummer's Eve, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve. There are several secondary holidays like Twelfth Night, Maundy Thursday, Holy Saturday, Walpurgis Night, Pentecost Eve, and All Saint's Eve. You will also find that there is a celebration called Saint Lucia that is celebrated by children on December 13th to honor a woman as well as kindness.
You will find that the holidays in Sweden are quite spread out offering a festival or celebration in almost every month. You will also find that food, drinks, and merriment are a part of most of the celebrations. However, some of the more religious celebrations are going to be a little solemn and meant for a peaceful celebration.
In some cases you are going to find there are multiple holidays on the same day. For instance the celebration of the Kings birth also coincides with Flag Day. Labor Day and May Day are also celebrated on the same days as Walpurgis. You will of course find that many of the traditional holidays bring about the history and storytelling of that history.
You will find that the folklore and stories of old are celebrated mostly during the midsummer festival in August. The midsummer celebration offers a widespread array of traditional cuisine to Sweden. In fact it is during this time you will find outdoor celebrations of the smorgasbord. The smorgasbord is a meal in which there are many different foods laid out on a table in offering. You will find that schnapps is typically available during the celebration for the adults to enjoy along with their food as it is the traditional Sweden drink. Most often herring, other meats, potatoes, and several other traditional foods are going to be offered. Since the celebration is outdoors many tourists are allowed to take part in the festival and the music that will be played.
One of the other traditions during this holiday is the clog dancing of Sweden. In fact you will find that clog dancing is also a part of other festivals like May Day in order to honor their traditions and add a bit of fun to the entire affair.
Sweden History Tip #1
Always remember to carry a map of Sweden when you visit, mark on it the whereabouts of your hotel and the full address and keep it with you when you travel. Mark down landmarks near the hotel if you plan to walk so that you can easily spot the direction of your residency for the time of your stay. |
Sweden History Tip #2
If you plan to travel to Northern Sweden to experience the Northern Lights and the Ice Hotel, pack accordingly and remember warm clothing, especially in winter months. Thermal underwear is highly recommended on top of hats, scarves and a couple of pairs of gloves – there's nothing worse than packing just one pair and losing one glove! |
Sweden History Tip #3
Gothenburg Sweden is just one of many things to see in Sweden. A good idea is to plan your trip in advance so that you can get to see the best of the best. The place is full of history, glorious scenery, architecture and quaint little buildings. |
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