National Day of Sweden

The Swedish National Day, the same day bears the name of the Swedish flag, falls, according to a regulation from 1983 to June 6. Since 2005, the National Day in Sweden is also a public holiday.

Historical background

During the 19th century, June 6 in Sweden developed into a national day of remembrance. Were celebrated the coronation of Gustavus Vasa on June 6, 1523 and the associated dissolution of the union with Denmark, which Sweden made ​​into an independent state. The union began in the Middle Ages the country was continued under King Gustav Vasa. Since 1916, June 6 has been celebrated as the "Day of the Swedish flag ."

The political decision to holiday

2004 the Swedish Parliament, a proposal was submitted, which was based on giving the National Day a greater extent than he had at this time. Among other things, the amazement of immigrants about the fact that Sweden's National Day is a public holiday, the reason given for the proposed amendment. This should be given the opportunity to celebrate their new fellow citizens shaft. It was initially thought to increase the number of public holidays, but after criticisms of the Swedish employers' organization, which feared a decline in economic performance in Sweden, it was decided to delete an existing public holiday as compensation.

Have been proposed, for example, the Ascension, but ultimately opted for the Whit Monday. This in turn provoked criticism of the unions, which pointed out that June 6, does not always fall on a weekday and thus reduces the number of non-working days.

Critical voices

Some critics note that Sweden in 1523 still followed the Julian calendar in 1753, and went over to the Gregorian calendar, which the then June 6 does not correspond to the present. In addition, there is the celebrated event to Vasa's entry into Stockholm, the king election took place earlier, and he was crowned only 1528th

Curiosities

Artur Hazelius, the founder of the Nordic Museum and the open-air museum Skansen in Stockholm, arranged in the 19th century some treats to different cultural events. In mid-June 1893 he was patriotic celebrations in mind arrange. Unconfirmed sites reported that it rained every day until June 6, so on this day, most visitors were recorded. Hazelius later wrote to the Yearbook of the Skansen " dedicated as the patriotic remembrance holiday was introduced in Skansen June 6, the Gustavstag, which was celebrated here and is celebrated in the future as a Swedish national day ".