Thou Ancient, Thou Free

Today it's the 6th of June, Sweden's National Day. It was made into a public holiday as late as 2005, but it has of course been celebrated in more or less modest ways before that. The day is celebrated in memory of Gustav Vasa becoming a king in 1523, which ended the Kalmar Union - when Sweden was ruled by the Danish king - and thus "founded" the new Sweden.

If you want to read more about Sweden and its history, you'll find it here.

Yes there are many things that can and should be improved in Sweden - both politically and otherwise, or well I suppose one could way that everything in life is politics in one way or the other... - but all in all and certainly by comparison worldwide, it's a fantastic country in many, many ways! And yes I'm in general proud to be Swedish!

Even if I don't shout it from the rooftops, or waver the flag too often and certainly bellyache about what's wrong in the parliamentary kingdom of Sweden on a regular basis - but hey, it's a democracy! So feel free to speak and write and try to make a difference.

Here are some ways you can celebrate the National Day in Stockholm -

and here comes a picture-cavalcade with some glimpses of what makes Sweden a grand country - Happy National Day!!! -