For a long time Sweden was perhaps the only country in the world with no official national day, which may be fairly symptomatic of the Swedes’ skepticism of patriotic manifestations generally. On the other hand, there are few countries in the world where private flag poles are as common as in Sweden, and both on June 6 and other “public flag days,” such as Midsummer Day, the blue-and-yellow flags will be seen fluttering in most gardens, outside country cottages and from tower block balconies.
Also called the day of Gustav Vasa it was initially - from the nineteenth century - to honor June 6, 1523, the day Gustav Vasa was elected Sweden’s King, and the Kalmar Union was finally dissolved. Gustav Vasa, born Gustav Eriksson or colloqually Gösta Jerksson, lead the rebellion against Christian II of Denmark, the leader of the Kalmar Union who controlled most of Sweden at the time. He was the first native Swedish sovereign and was considered a liberator of the country. The events made Sweden a sovereign state once again and are generally considered the foundation of modern Sweden.

The new constitution and government proclamation of 1809 was also made on June 6, as was the proclamation of 1974. Although celebrated as a Flag Day it was not until 1983 that June 6 officially became the national day and note the moderation of nationalism whereby the national day was still for many years a regular working day.
The Riksdagen – Sweden’s parliament – made June 6 a national holiday in 2004. The decision made the third day of Whit, Whit Monday, into an ordinary day and Swedes got a longer work week at the Whitsun holidays beginning in 2005. June 6 is since then a day off no matter what day it falls on.

While celebrations on June 6 itself may be low key when compared with our Fourth of July in the U.S., there will be celebrations in many parts of Swedish America: The Swedish church in Florida was observing the day already on June 3, with concerts, choir music and summer buffet - Svenska Kyrkan i Florida; The Swedish church in New York is offering a herring luncheon with performance by the choir - Svenska Kyrkan i New York; The Consulate General of Sweden and the Church of Sweden in San Francisco are celebrating with a concert and a speech by Consul General Barbro Osher on June 10 - Svenska kyrkan i San Francisco

The Swedish National Anthem

In Swedish
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,
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!
Ja, jag vill leva, jag vill dö i Norden!

In English
Thou ancient, thou freeborn, thou mountainous North,
In beauty and peace our hearts beguiling,
I greet thee, thou loveliest land on the earth,
Thy sun, thy skies, thy verdant meadows smiling.
Thy sun, thy skies, thy verdant meadows smiling.

Thy throne rests on mem’ries from great days of yore,
When worldwide renown was valour’s guerdon.
I know to thy name thou art true as before.
Oh, I would live and I would die in Sweden,
Oh, I would live and I would die in Sweden.

Listen to the music:
Click for link to melody only
As sung by Carola Häggkvist: Du Gamla Du Fria