National Day of Sweden

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, 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, the event signifies 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 a strong a presence in the social consciousness as, for example, the Norwegian Constitution Day, Syttende mai.[2] Although the national day is celebrated on 6 June, it is actually wrong due to the Julian calendar which was in use before 1582, when the Gregorian calendar was introduced, and which (before March 1700) was ten days behind the Gregorian calendar; the anniversary of the election of King Gustav Vasa therefore falls on 16 June.

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]

• 
  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

• "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