martes, junio 05, 2007

THE NATIONAL DAY OF SWEDEN (6 JUNE)

The National Day of Sweden is celebrated on June 6 in memory of the founding of the kingdom of Sweden by the coronation ceremony of Gustav Vasa June 6, 1523; and the confirmatory of the constitution law June 6, 1809. That date was denominated the official National Day of Sweden in the year 1983, but has been celebrated as the Day of the Swedish Flag since 1916.

That day all flagpoles are crowned by Swedish flag blue with a yellow cross. Blue as the sky and yellow as the sun. The origin of the colours are from Middle Ages, from the heraldic arms of the dynasty of the Folkungars and the Mecklenburgers. The yellow cross has it is origin in medieval cross banners.

From 2005 the National Day is a holiday. The parliament took this decision in December 2004. So now most people are free. The National Day is celebrated in the townships with flags parades, music, songs from choirs and speech of a prominent person.

The Swedish national anthem:
http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/CommonPage____9458.aspx

Du gamla, Du fria, Du fjällhöga nord
Du tysta, Du glädjerika sköna!
Jag hälsar Dig, vänaste land uppå jord,/:
Din sol, Din himmel, Dina ängder gröna.:/

Du tronar på minnen från fornstora dar
då ärat Ditt namn flög över jorden.
Jag vet att Du är och Du blir vad du var./:
Ja, jag vill leva jag vill dö i Norden.:/


PD: Me parece estupendo cómo este país disfruta con sus símbolos. Los considera parte de sí mismo. En muchísimas casas puedes ver una bandera azul y amarilla, sobre todo cuando sales de la ciudad. Qué envidia me da al verlo y al pensar en el complejo que tenemos en España de enseñar nuestra bandera. Aquí están orgullosos de ello.

SOURCE: www.sweden.se