The Swedish National Day

The Swedish National Day is the 6th June. It was chosen as National day in honur of the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523, as this was considered the foundation of modern Sweden.

Today our National Day is in the calendar as a ”red day”, but it has not always been that way.

Before 2004, the 6th June was only the Day of the Flag. But the Swedish government decided to make the day a little bit more prominant, so they made the Day of the Flag into our National Day!

We do not celebrate the National Day very much, it is not such a big deal for the most of the Swedish people. Perhaps that is because we have almost always been a free country, we have not had to fight for our freedom for many years.

But in the last few years we have had some celebrations in almost every bigger city. We sing songs, wear blue and yellow clothes and the king usually makes a speech about our beautiful country.

The Swedish National AnthemThe Swedish National Anthem is called ”Du Gamla, Du Fria”

= You Old, You Free.

It was written in 1844 by Richard Dybeck.

It indirectly became our nationalsong 1866, but it has not been formaly accepted as the Swedish National Anthem either by the Swedish government or the Swedish parliament.

The Swedish National Anthem is very nationalistic. It is used in many different places, but most at sports events. By: Lina Kristoffersson SP2b

Click for the tuneand listen

The Swedish National Anthem

You old, you free, you mountainous north You silent, you glorious beauty! I greet you, fairest of lands on the earth,

Your bright sun, your skies, your meadows so green Your bright sun, your skies, your meadows so green

You rest on your memories of ancient great days,When honoured your name flew over the earth.I know that you are, and will be what you were. Yes, I want to live and to die in the North Yes, I want to live and to die in the North

Translation by J. Nixon

First two verses of the Swedish national anthem in modern English translation

Now try to sing it!