June traditions

June is when all the bank holidays seem to happen, from National Day to Utspring to Midsommar! Find out about these fantastic Swedish June traditions and learn how to celebrate!

Stockholm Marathon - Saturday 3rd June

One of Europe's largest marathons, and claimed by some to be the most beautiful, this event takes in all the sights. Cheer on the runners - and if you're going out, prepare for crowds and traffic! You can sign up for this annual event right up to the last minute here.

Nationaldagen  (National Day) - Tuesday June 6th
Swedish National Day has been a public holiday since 2005, celebrated partly in memory of when Sweden broke the Kalmar Union and became a free kingdom and, with Gustav Vasa being elected King of Sweden on 6 June 1523. There are usually outdoor events with lots of things for children to do at the main parks in the city, including Humlegården and the Royal Armoury, where your child can be dubbed a knight for the day!

The Royal family makes a procession to Skansen, where you can celebrate National Day in style with concerts, folk performances, games and crafts. It's also traditionally the day when many people have their Swedish citizenship ceremony.

Utspring Last day of term
Students graduating from high school celebrate finishing school with Utspring, where students wear white hats and parade through the city centre on open trucks. You'll hear them around Stockholm before you see them - be prepared for traffic!

Midsommarafton (Midsummer's Eve): Friday 23 June
Midsummer's eve is one of the most popular family festivals in Sweden, with dancing and drinking in the midnight sun with family and friends marks the arrival of summer (even when, as it is wont to do, it rains). A major part of the day features dancing around a maypole decorated with birch branches and flowers, with children singing songs like små grodorna (which you can teach your little ones here). The maypole was used in ancient fertility rites, as a phallic symbol 'impregnating' Mother nature to give a good harvest in the autumn. You can also buy beautiful flower wreaths to wear on your heads, or better, make your own from wild flowers.

It is traditional to eat a lunch of pickled herring with new potatoes, BBQ and strawberries and cream, washed down by snaps and accompanied by drinking songs!  Every time the glasses are refilled, a new round of songs break out. Again Skansen provides an authentic experience, but you can usually find celebrations in the parks near you.