May traditions

Mothers Day and Mello - Welcome to the merry month of May, where there are holidays and festivals a-plenty!

Första maj (Labor Day) : Monday 1st May
Many Swedes spend this public holiday recovering from the Valborg festivities of the night before, but Labor Day is traditionally a day of protest marches to mark this traditional workers’ day. There may be parades and demonstrations in Stockholm, so shops will have altered opening hours and offices are closed. There'll be a huge amount of people outside Norra Latin, where the unions end their march!

Melodifestivalen (Eurovision Song Contest): Saturday 11th May
The Eurovision Song Contest (affectionately known as Mello in Sweden) is a European musical competition and one of the most watched TV shows in Sweden. This season marks 50 years since ABBA won with Waterloo in 1974 and appropriately the final is in Malmö! But will Sweden be able to pull off another ABBA? Watch to find out!

Kristi Himmelsfärdsdag (Ascension Day): Thursday 9th May
Believed by Christians to be the day that Jesus rose to heaven, this public holiday 39 days after Easter always falls on a Thursday, so the Friday is often taken off as a klämdag or 'squeeze day' to make a four day weekend.

Pingstdagen (Pentecost / Whit Sunday) - Sunday 19th May
Seven weeks after Easter and ten days after the Ascension Day holiday, this is traditionally, a popular day for weddings, should you feel so inclined!

Mors dag (Mother's Day): Sunday 26th May
You may be celebrating mothers on a different day, depending on your nationality, but why not add the Swedish one to the mix - mother deserve a lot of celebrating!