National Day of Sweden

National Day of Sweden (Swedish: Sveriges nationaldag [ˈsvæ̌rjɛs natɧʊˈnɑ̂ːldɑːɡ] ^ⓘ) is the National Day of Sweden, observed annually as a public holiday on 6 June. Prior to 1983, the day was celebrated only as the Swedish Flag Day (Swedish: Svenska flaggans dag). It was officially named the Swedish National Day by the parliament of Sweden in 1983, and became a public holiday in 2005.^[1] The day is celebrated in honor of the election of Gustav Vasa as King of Sweden in 1523 and of the adoption of the constitutions of 1809 and 1974.

National Day of Sweden
National Day celebrations at Kungsträdgården in Stockholm, 2008
Official name	Sveriges nationaldag
Observed by	Sweden
Type	National Day
Date	6 June
Next time	6 June 2026 (2026-06-06)
Frequency	annual

History

King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia at Skansen in 2009

The tradition of celebrating this date began in 1916 at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium, in honor of the election of King Gustav Vasa on 6 June 1523 (according to the Julian calendar). Some question the validity of this as a national holiday, as the event occurred so long ago that it does not have a strong a presence in the social consciousness.^[2]

In 2005, it became an official Swedish public holiday, replacing Whit Monday. This change led to fewer days off from work (more working-days) as 6 June will periodically fall on the weekend, unlike Whit Monday, which was always celebrated on a Monday. Among newer traditions that have emerged since National Day turned red day is an invitation from the King to the public to visit large parts of Stockholm Palace all day without the usual entry fees.^[3]

Image gallery

• 
  National Day Celebration at Stockholm Palace
  2009
• 
  Entrance to Stockholm Palace
  2013
• 
  Swedish UN soldiers awarded medals at on National Day
  2012.
• 
  National Day Celebration at Stockholm Palace outer court
  2013

See also

• "Du gamla, du fria" – national anthem of Sweden
• Flag flying days in Sweden – days of the calendar year designated as official Swedish Flag Flying Days
• Mother Svea – patriotic emblem of the Swedish nation
• Three Crowns – national emblem of Sweden