Legally Recognised Holidays

Generally these days are work-free, but some service industries like cafés, bakeries, restaurants and cinemas are open. The religious importance is generally seen as being on the decline.

Jan 01 2006	Sun		New Year´s Day	Jan 01 2007	Mon		New Year´s Day
Jan 06 2006	Fri	†	Epiphany	Jan 06 2007	Sat	†	Epiphany
Apr 14 2006	Fri	†	Good Friday	Apr 06 2007	Fri	†	Good Friday
Apr 17 2006	Mon	†	Easter Monday	Apr 09 2007	Mon	†	Easter Monday
May 01 2006	Mon		Labour Day	May 01 2007	Tue		Labour Day
May 25 2006	Thu	†	Ascension Day	May 17 2007	Thu	†	Ascension Day
Jun 06 2006	Tue		Swedish National Holiday	Jun 06 2007	Wed		Swedish National Holiday
Jun 24 2006	Sat		Midsummer day	Jun 23 2007	Sat		Midsummer day
Nov 04 2006	Sat	†	All Saints´ Day	Nov 03 2007	Sat	†	All Saints´ Day
Dec 25 2006	Mon	†	Christmas	Dec 25 2007	Tue	†	Christmas
Dec 26 2006	Tue	†	St. Stephen´s Day	Dec 26 2007	Wed	†	St. Stephen´s Day

Non Legally Recognised Holidays

Feb 14 2006	Tue	†	Valentine´s Day	Feb 14 2007	Wed	†	Valentine´s Day
Apr 13 2006	Thu	†	Maundy Thursday	Apr 05 2007	Thu	†	Maundy Thursday
Apr 16 2006	Sun	†	Easter	Apr 08 2007	Sun	†	Easter
Apr 30 2006	Sun		Walpurgis Night	Apr 30 2007	Mon		Walpurgis Night
May 28 2006	Sun		Mother´s Day	May 27 2007	Sun	†	Whitsun
Jun 04 2006	Sun	†	Whitsun	May 27 2007	Sun		Mother´s Day
Jun 23 2006	Fri		Midsummer eve	Jun 22 2007	Fri		Midsummer eve
Nov 11 2006	Sat	†	Saint Martin	Nov 11 2007	Sun	†	Saint Martin
Dec 03 2006	Sun	†	First Advent	Dec 02 2007	Sun	†	First Advent
Dec 10 2006	Sun	†	Second Advent	Dec 09 2007	Sun	†	Second Advent
Dec 13 2006	Wed	†	Lucia	Dec 13 2007	Thu	†	Lucia
Dec 17 2006	Sun	†	Third Advent	Dec 16 2007	Sun	†	Third Advent
Dec 24 2006	Sun	†	Christmas Eve	Dec 23 2007	Sun	†	Fourth Advent
Dec 24 2006	Sun	†	Fourth Advent	Dec 24 2007	Mon	†	Christmas Eve
Dec 31 2006	Sun		New Year´s Eve	Dec 31 2007	Mon		New Year´s Eve

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

Mother´s Day
Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Mothers are given flowers and presents by their children.

Midsummer Eve / Day
Midsummer is the most popular festival in Scandinavia together with Christmas. It is a celebration of the Summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Midsommar is celebrated on Friday around the Majstång, a tall phallic maypole covered with flowers and greenery. People gather in the afternoon to raise and to sing and dance around the Majstång, an ancient tradition originally related to fertility rituals. Many women wear a flower wreath on their heads and some people dress in traditional folk costumes. Some regions in southern Sweden also light bonfires to celebrate.

New Year´s Eve / Day
The beginning of a new year is celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1st. Just like in many other countries, there are big New Year’s Eve celebrations and at midnight there are fireworks as a salute to the New Year. January 1st (New Year’s Day – Neujahr) is a national public holiday.

Walpurgis Night
According to the ancient legends, this night was the last chance for witches and their nefarious cohorts to stir up trouble before Spring reawakened the land. Walpurgis has its roots in ancient pagan customs, superstitions and festivals. At this time of year, the Vikings participated in a ritual that they hoped would hasten the arrival of Spring weather and ensure fertility for their crops and livestock. They would light huge bonfires in hopes of scaring away evil spirits.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

Advent (1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th)
Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas. The Latin word "adventus" means "arrival". It refers to the period of preparation for the coming of Jesus on the first day of Christmas. Many families have what is known as an "Adventskranz" ("Advent crown") with 4 candles. A candle is lit on each of the four Sundays of Advent. During Advent, sweet pastries are often eaten and Christmas decorations are put up around the home. An "Adventskalender" ("Advent Calendar") is often made or bought for children. The calendar has 24 windows with small presents or pictures behind each window, for each day from the 1st until the 24th of December, Christmas Eve.

All Saints´ Day
Christian day for honoring saints, known and unknown. A Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church where saints have special formal status. In general, saints are persons with reputation for unusual lives of holiness and devotion to God.

Ascension Day
Christian recognition of the departure of Jesus from earth after the resurrection. It is perhaps the earliest observed celebration in Christianity. It is observed with worship including prayers and music

Christmas
Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed by prayers, exchanging of gifts, and family parties

Christmas Eve
Christian celebration of the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem for for the birth of Jesus. It is observed with worship, candle lighting, manger scenes and festive meals

Easter / Easter Monday
The most holy of Christian sacred days. The day commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from his death by crucifixion. Observances include worship services beginning at sunrise, special music, feasting, and parades

Epiphany
Christian commemoration of the manifestations of the divine nature of Jesus Christ. The homage of the magi to the infant Jesus is honored by some. For others the Baptism of Jesus is the remembered event. A season of the Christian year from the close of Christmas to the beginning of Lent. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.

Good Friday
Christian remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus and related events

Maundy Thursday
Christian observance of the first Lord's Supper during Holy Week

Saint Martin
Children celebrate St Martin's Day as the start of Carnival season. They walk around the streets, after dark, carrying lanterns, and singing special songs. A bit like trick or treating, they are rewarded for their singing and the beauty of their lanterns, with sweets and other goodies

St. Stephen´s Day
Christian remembrance of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr

Valentine´s Day
Christian celebration of the love of God presented in Jesus and in the lives of Christian believers. St Valentine was a 3rd century martyr. This day is widely observed in the USA as a secular celebration of love.

Whitsun / Whit Monday
Whitsun or Pentecost ("Pfingsten") is celebrated with Whit Sunday ("Pfingstsonntag") and Whit Monday ("Pfingstmonntag"). This is the 50th day after Easter. This commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost among the apostles of Jesus, which was the starting point of their missionary work. Whitsun can therefore be described as the birthday of the church. Whit Monday is a public holiday.