Swedish holidays through the year
The big Swedish celebrations are Lucia on 13 December, Christmas Eve on 24 December and Midsommar on the Friday between 19 and 25 June. Around them sit smaller favourites: fettisdagen with its semla in winter, Valborg in April and the kräftskiva crayfish party in August.
Through the year
- Fettisdagen (Shrove Tuesday): the Tuesday before Lent. People eat semlor, cream and almond paste buns, often from Christmas to Easter. In 2027 it is on 9 February.
- Valborg (30 April): bonfires and spring songs.
- Nationaldagen (6 June): the National Day, a public holiday.
- Midsommar: Midsummer Eve is the Friday between 19 and 25 June (19 June in 2026, 25 June in 2027). People dance around the maypole, eat herring, new potatoes and strawberries, and many leave the cities.
- Kräftskiva (August): a crayfish party with paper lanterns, silly hats and drinking songs. Guests often bring a side dish.
- Kanelbullens dag (4 October): the day of the cinnamon bun.
- Lucia (13 December): a procession with a candle crown and white dresses, singing, with lussekatter saffron buns and gingerbread.
- Julafton (24 December): Swedes celebrate Christmas mainly on Christmas Eve, with a julbord and Kalle Anka (Donald Duck) on TV at 15:00.
What is a public holiday and what is just tradition?
Midsummer Eve and Christmas Eve are not official public holidays, but in practice almost everything closes. Lucia, Valborg and fettisdagen are regular working days, so people fit the celebration around work.
Questions and answers
When is Midsommar in Sweden?
Midsummer Eve is the Friday between 19 and 25 June. In 2026 it is 19 June and in 2027 it is 25 June. Midsummer Day is the Saturday after.
What is Lucia?
Lucia, on 13 December, is a festival of light in the dark winter. A Lucia wearing a crown of candles (today usually electric) leads a singing procession, and people eat saffron buns called lussekatter.
What is a kräftskiva?
A crayfish party held in August: guests eat boiled crayfish with paper lanterns, silly hats and drinking songs, and often bring their own side dishes.
What is fettisdagen?
Shrove Tuesday, the day Swedes traditionally eat a semla, a bun with cream and almond paste, before Lent. The date moves each year, and in 2027 it is 9 February.
More about life in Sweden
Sources
Facts checked October 2026. Rules and numbers change, so check the official pages before you decide anything.