🎉Traditions and culture

Swedish holidays, customs and everyday culture — and the national minorities.

The most important things to know

• Midsummer is celebrated in June with a maypole, singing and food. It is one of the biggest holidays.
• Lucia is celebrated on 13 December with a Lucia procession and singing.
• Christmas Eve, 24 December, is the day Christmas is celebrated most in Sweden.
• National Day is 6 June and is a public holiday.
• Sweden has five national minorities: Jews, Roma, Sami, Sweden Finns, and Tornedalians.
• The Sami are Sweden's indigenous people and have their own elected body, the Sami Parliament (Sametinget).
• Sweden has five national minority languages: Finnish, Yiddish, Meänkieli, Romani Chib and Sami.

Key terms

National minority

A group with a long historical presence in Sweden and special legal protection.

Indigenous people

A people who lived in an area before current state borders were drawn. In Sweden: the Sami.

Fika

Taking a break for coffee or tea, often together with others.

All Saints' weekend

A weekend in early November when people light candles on graves.