Gothenburg Celebrates Swedish National Day

Sweden is a member of the European Union but not a member of the Euro-zone currency (in a referendum, the Swedes rejected to have Euro in the place of Swedish Krona). The patriotism and nationalism manifests on Swedish National Day: 6 June.

Sweden celebrates National Day on 6 June every year for two reasons: 1. On 6 June 1523, Gustav Vasa was chosen as the King of Sweden 2. On 6 June 1809, Sweden adopted a new constitution.

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy.

The National Day is a public holiday, and one can find here and there people waving the Swedish flag (yellow and blue), and on the flagpoles the flag runs up the mast and unfurled: waving in the summer breeze.

What happens on the Swedish National Day:

• Sweden is a not a republic but the ceremonial head of the State is the King (and Queen). On National Day, the King and Queen of Sweden discharge their national duties by attending a ceremony in Stockholm’s Skansen the open-air museum. It is also the time to receive summer flowers from children clad in peasant costumes.
• Those residing in Sweden and would have chosen to become Swedish citizens are welcomed on National Day across the country.
• In Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden on the west coast, the National Day is celebrated at Slottskogen.

Gothenburg celebrates Swedish National Day … Göteborg firar svensk nationaldag … #göteborg #thisisgbg #igersgothenburg #gbg #gbgfoto #göteborgsdirekt #goteborg2021 #thisisgburg #igersgothenburg #gbg400år

A post shared by gothenburg göteborg (@gothenburg400) on Jun 6, 2018 at 6:26am PDT

Origin of National Day in Sweden:

• The National Day saw its national-romantic significance as the country entered into 20^th century, around 1900, when national-romantic winds blew in the country. From second half of 18^th century to early 1900s, about 20-30% of the Swedish population emigrated to other countries, and most of them left the country through the Gothenburg Port. The country reassessed itself and laid the foundations for a modern and developed country.
• It was only since 1983, Sweden started to celebrate its National Day on 6 June. Earlier, the idea to celebrate the day arose from Artur Hazelius the founder of Skansen open-air museumin 1890s (the period of national-romantic period manifesting in arts, architecture and politics).
• The earlier confusion of celebrating Flag Day (6 June) and National Day (21 June) was also ridden off.
• The National Day is celebrated as the public holiday since 2005 following the passage of a bill in the Swedish Parliament in order to encourage people to participate in national day activities.

Sweden is yet to identify its national pastry, national dish, national instrument (key-fiddle: nyckelharpa).