Flags on holidays and celebrations in Sweden

In Sweden the flag goes with celebration. Many people raise it at Midsummer and Christmas, on National Day and on the family’s big days. Some of the holidays are general flag days under Ordinance (1982:270), others are only tradition. This guide is about flying the flag on holidays and at celebrations. A complete list of dates is in the guide to flag days.

Holidays that are general flag days

Five of the year’s major holidays are general flag days. It is the holiday itself, not the eve, that is the flag day.

That a day is not a general flag day does not mean flying the flag is not allowed. It is very common to fly the flag on Christmas Eve and Midsummer Eve, and there is no rule against it.

National Day on 6 June

6 June is the National Day of Sweden and Swedish Flag Day. Swedish Flag Day has been celebrated throughout the country since 1916, the day became National Day in 1983 and has been a public holiday since 2005, when it replaced Whit Monday. The date recalls that Gustav Vasa was elected king on 6 June 1523 and that the Instrument of Government of 1809 was adopted on the same date.

On National Day, state authorities and municipalities fly the flag, and it is an obvious day for everyone with a flagpole to raise the flag. If National Day coincides with a funeral, flying the flag at half-mast takes precedence.

Midsummer and the time of day

Midsummer Day is a general flag day. According to the recommendations, the usual times apply: the flag is lowered at sunset, but no later than 21:00. Because the sun sets late or not at all in northern Sweden around Midsummer, it is the time on the clock that decides. According to the recommendations, a floodlit flag may stay up even on a light Midsummer evening, see flag lighting.

The family’s special days

Flying the flag on the family’s own celebrations is an old Swedish tradition. Common occasions are:

• Birthdays, especially milestone birthdays.
• Weddings and wedding anniversaries.
• Graduation (studenten), when someone in the family finishes upper secondary school.
• Christenings and confirmations.
• Visits from relatives and friends, especially at the summer cottage.

No permission is needed. According to the recommendations, the same flag etiquette applies as on other occasions: the flag is raised to the top, is whole and clean and is taken down in the evening. More in the guide to flag rules.

Pennant or flag?

On ordinary days the pennant can stay on the pole around the clock. On a special day the pennant is traditionally swapped for the flag. It is a clear way of marking that the day is special. When the flag is lowered in the evening, the pennant can go up again.

Flying other flags

At celebrations with guests from another country, some people honour their guests with their flag. It is worth bearing in mind that only one flag is raised on each pole under the Swedish recommendations. Foreign citizens living in Sweden may fly their own country’s flag at their own celebrations. More in the guide to foreign flags in Sweden.