Nationaldagen, June 6

In spite of Swedish pastries, flags, and entertainment, Swedes aren’t much for celebrating their national day, June 6. They don’t gather the way Americans, Norwegians, and the French do. Why is that? Well, according to Swedish media, Swedes simply don’t feel they have that much to celebrate. 

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• In spite of Swedish pastries, flags, and entertainment, Swedes aren’t much for celebrating their national day, June 6. They don’t gather the way Americans, Norwegians, and the French do. Why is that? Well, according to Swedish media, Swedes simply don’t feel they have that much to celebrate.

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  Sweden's National Day, June 6

• In Norway, May 17 is celebrated as the date Norway gained its independence; in France, July 14 is celebrated because on that date the Bastille was stormed and the French Revolution started. And in the U.S., of course July 4 commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. “We haven’t been victims of oppression or occupation. We have never had to beat ourselves free. The big reason is that we do not have anything tangible to celebrate,” says Agneta Lilja, ethnologist at Södertörn University.

• Then why June 6 at all? Well, the background might simply be that the founder of Skansen, Artur Hazelius, during the 1890s wanted a spring party. “Artur was great at getting funding. The choice fell on June 6 (for the party) among other things because it was the same day that Gustav Vasa was elected king,” according to a Skansen press officer. That said, the National Day celebration on June 6 commemorates two things—Gustav Vasa was elected king of Sweden on that day in 1523, - which made Sweden independent after being part of the Kalmar Union from 1397-1523. (The election took place in Roggeborgen in Strängnäs) - and the 1809 government declaration was ratified on the same date.