~ The Swedish National Day, June 6 ~

 Since 1916, 6 June has been celebrated as the Swedish Flag Day. This finally also became Sweden's National Day in 1983. There are two reasons for the choice of date: the election of Gustav Vasa as King of Sweden on 6 June 1523 laid the foundation of Sweden as a separate state; and on the same date in 1809, Sweden adopted a new constitution which included the establishment of civil rights and liberties. 

This day is celebrated with parades and speeches all over the country, but not with so many activities as for example in Norway, and thatīs a bit sad.  We all need a special day to celebrate our country, but it has become more of it.
Nice activities and celebrations to welcome our new citizens for example. It is a great new tradition and I am happy for all opportunities to make this day to the special day it should be, a day for pride and happiness.

The Flag: 
The exact age of the Swedish Flag is not known, but the oldest pictures of a blue cloth with a yellow cross date from the 16th century.

 The Swedish national anthem:

O glorious mountain crown'd land of the North, 
thou quiet thou joyous land, I love thee, 

I hail thee as fairest of lands on this earth; 
Thy meadows green, the sun in heav'n above thee, 

Thy meadows green, the sun in heav'n above thee. 
Thy throne is the mem'ry of great days of yore, 

when all through the world thy name was carried, 
thou art this, I know, the same as of old. 

In thee I'll live, in thee I'll die, thou North Land, 
In thee I'll live, in thee I'll die, thou North Land. 
by Richard Dybeck