This chapter goes through important holidays in Sweden, from New Year's Eve to Christmas. A holiday is a special day that people celebrate together.
Traditions in Sweden
A tradition is something you do the same way every year. Many Swedish traditions come from Christianity, and some are even older. Others are based on Sweden's history. Traditions give a sense of belonging together, but they change as society changes.
Christian holidays include Christmas, Easter and Whitsun. Even many people who are not religious see them as important parts of Sweden's cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is what we have inherited from the past. Several holidays are also public holidays, meaning days when people are off work.
New Year and Easter
31 December is New Year's Eve. Many people have a party with family and friends. At night, the new year is welcomed with fireworks, as in many other countries.
Easter, a Christian holiday, comes in March or April. It marks Jesus's death on Good Friday. Easter Sunday marks his resurrection, meaning that he came back to life.
Eggs, lamb, salmon and herring are common foods on the Saturday before Easter. Children usually get an Easter egg filled with sweets. Some children dress up as påskkärringar, a kind of Easter witch.
Valborg and May Day
30 April is valborgsmässoafton, often called valborg (Walpurgis Night), when spring is welcomed. In the evening, people light large bonfires (fires outdoors). Many gather round the fire and sing songs of spring.
The day after valborg is 1 May, workers' day in many countries. Everyone is off work that day, since it is a public holiday in Sweden. The labour movement, which fights for workers' rights, organises demonstrations in many places. Speeches on society and politics are also held, among others by trade unions and political parties.
National Day and Midsummer
Sweden celebrates its National Day on 6 June. On 6 June 1523, Gustav Vasa was elected king. This is seen as the start of Sweden's independence, meaning the country gaining the right to govern itself. On 6 June 1809, Sweden got a new regeringsform (instrument of government), a law on how the country is to be governed. After that, the king had to share power with riksdagen (the Swedish parliament).
Since 2005, National Day has been a public holiday, following a decision in riksdagen. The flag is raised (hoisted up) and speeches are held. In many kommuner, new citizens are welcomed with a ceremony.
At Midsummer, summer and light are welcomed. It is celebrated on Midsummer's Eve, which always falls on a Friday between 19 and 25 June. The celebration is older than Christianity in Sweden. Many people have parties outdoors and make wreaths of flowers. People dance, play games and sing around a maypole, and eat herring, new potatoes and strawberries.
All Saints' Day and Advent
All Saints' Day falls between the end of October and the start of November. It is a Christian holiday, and it is always celebrated on a Saturday. Many people visit the cemetery and light candles on graves. In this way they remember relatives and friends who have died.
During the 4 Sundays before Christmas Day, which falls on 25 December, it is Advent. The word Advent means arrival. In the past, Advent was a time for awaiting Christmas and preparing for it.
Children open one door a day in the Advent calendar, right up to Christmas Eve. Most people also have an Advent star shining in the window. On the table there is an Advent candlestick with 4 candles, and a new one is lit each Sunday.
Lucia and Christmas
13 December is Lucia. Today's Lucia celebration developed during the 1800s. The celebration is meant to bring light during the darkest time of the year.
In schools and other places, people walk in a Lucia procession and sing. Whoever plays Lucia wears a crown of candles on her head, while the others hold candles in their hands. Many people eat lussebullar that day, meaning buns flavoured with saffron.
Christmas was originally a Christian holiday, celebrating the birth of Jesus. Many people celebrate Christmas with family, even if they are not religious. Christmas Eve, 24 December, is the day for Christmas food and presents. Many people have a Christmas tree at home and decorate it with fairy lights, baubles and tinsel. Early on Christmas Day, 25 December, some people go to julotta, an early church service.
New traditions
Someone who moves to another country brings their traditions with them. People adapt them, meaning change them to fit the new country. Immigrants have, for example, brought Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Other examples are the Persian new year Nowruz and the Kurdish new year Newroz. These are celebrated at the spring equinox on 21 March, when day and night are equally long.