Sweden Finns' Day
Sweden Finns' Day (Finnish: Ruotsinsuomalaisten päivä; Swedish: Sverigefinnarnas dag) is an anniversary celebrated in Sweden on 24 February. The anniversary was approved by the Swedish Academy in 2010. It was held for the first time in 2011.[1] 24 February was picked as the date of the anniversary because it was the birthday of Carl Axel Gottlund. He was a defender of speaking the Finnish language.[2] The purpose of the day is to celebrate the history, language and culture of people with Finnish heritage living in Sweden. [1][3]
Sweden Finns' Day | |
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![]() Flag of the Sweden Finns | |
Official name | Finnish: Ruotsinsuomalaisten päivä, Swedish: Sverigefinnarnas dag |
Observed by | Sweden |
Date | 24 February |
Related to | Carl Axel Gottlund |
Towns that have large numbers of Finnish-speaking people raise the Sweden Finnish flag on Sweden Finns' Day.[4] But this day is not a flag day approved by the government.[5] The anniversary is observed in parts of Sweden, including Stockholm, Eskilstuna, Gothenburg, Västerås and Nykvarn. The day's events have included concerts, dance performances, writer visits, karaoke dances and theater plays for children. For example, in 2017, more than a thousand people attended the celebration at Stockholm City Hall.[6] In 2013, the celebration was large in many places.[7]
In 2019, the seal was selected by the listeners of Sveriges Radio's Finnish-language channel Sveriges Radio Finska as the national animal of the Sweden Finns.[8]
Related pages
References
Other websites
- Extra festligt på Sverigefinnarnas dag i år at Minoritet.se (in Swedish)