page_title: National Day of Sweden
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: National Day of Sweden / History
caption_attribution_description: Svenska: Carl XVI Gustaf och drottning Silvia under nationaldagsfirandet på Skansen 2009.
context_page_description: The National Day of Sweden is a national holiday observed annually in Sweden on 6 June. Prior to 1983, the day was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day. At that time, the day was renamed the Swedish National Day by the Riksdag.
context_section_description: The tradition of celebrating this date began 1916 at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium, in honour of the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523, as this was considered the foundation of modern Sweden. Some question the validity of this as a national holiday, as it was not observed as a holiday until decades later.  However this event does signify the end of the Danish-ruled Kalmar Union, so in a sense it is a marking of Swedish independence, though the event occurred so long ago that it does not have as strong of a presence in the social consciousness as does, for example, the Norwegian Constitution Day, Syttende Mai.
  In 2005, it became an official Swedish public holiday, replacing Whit Monday. This change led to fewer days off from work (more working-days) as 6 June will periodically fall on the weekend, unlike Whit Monday, which was always celebrated on a Monday. Among newer traditions that have emerged since National Day turned red day is an invitation from the King to the public to visit large parts of Stockholm Palace all day  without the usual entry fees.
caption: King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia at Skansen in 2009
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