Perhaps the best thing about Sweden’s national day today is that there is not very much jingoism and nationalism and patriotic fervour in evidence. If anything it is more a celebration of the values of human freedoms rather than any particular celebration of the nation state within its geographical boundaries. Even the national (but unofficial) anthem is more a paean to the North – Scandinavia (“Oh! I wish to live, I wish to die in Norden”) rather than specifically to Sweden.
The vast bulk of the population don’t make very much fuss about the day. Politicians tend to attend some official function or the other – more for political correctness – it seems to me. Immigrants take part in some of the (fairly low-key) festivities. Many municipalities have some ceremony to welcome new citizens on this day. The loony right don’t like this welcoming of “New Swedes”. They usually try and whip up some artificial feelings of nationalism with anti-immigration rhetoric – but even their efforts are somewhat half-hearted.
The 6th of June has been a national holiday only since 2005, has been officially the National Day only since 1983 and before that was the Swedish Flag day but only since 1916. It was chosen ostensibly because the 6th of June was the day on which Gustav Vasa was crowned in 1523. But the real reason of course is that because there is a very good chance that the 6th of June will be a nice warm summer day!
The real origin of the choice of 6th June was bad weather and the ensuring of revenues from an organised festival! In 1893, a Spring Festival had to be reorganised hastily by Artur Hazelius for the 6th of June because it rained heavily on the day he had planned. The “Festival” was planned to draw in money from the public of course!
In any event, it is nice, warm, sunny day today. And it is a public holiday.
And I will not be doing anything special to celebrate – but I shall enjoy the day.
Tags: National Day, Nationalism
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