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In addition to this, all Sundays are official holidays but they are not as important as the ''main'' holidays. The names of the Sundays follow the liturgical calendar and they should be categorized as Christian holidays. When the standard working week in Sweden was reduced to 40 hours by the Parliament (the '' Riksdag ''), all Saturdays became a '' De Facto '' public holidays. Easter Sunday and Pentecost are Sundays that form part of a ''main'' holiday and they are preceded by a kind of ''special'' Saturdays. Uniquely celebrated in Sweden is the holiday of Saint Lucia . She is the only saint to be celebrated in Lutheran Sweden (as well as those parts of Norway and Finland where Swedish influence has historically been prominent). The celebration always takes place on December 13 and retains many pre-Christian traditions. The same is also true for many holidays in Sweden. TRADITION In Swedish tradition many holidays have their main celebrations not on the ''Day'' but on the ''Eve'' of the holiday, meaning one day earlier. This is especially significant on Christmas Eve and Midsummer Eve, but also on New Year's Eve, however in this case not really unique. Christmas Eve, Midsummer Eve and New Year's Eve might very well be the single most important holidays during the entire year for Swedes. These days are however not official holidays but half-days, and ''de facto'' full holidays. Most employers provide for the days as full holidays. Other half-day holidays with a full-day de facto status are: Epiphany Eve, Maundy Thursday , Walpurgis Eve, the day before Ascension Day and the day before All Saints . The Swedish calendar also provides for special Flag Days . Flag days are in some cases official holidays or the birthdays and namedays for the Royal family and ''informal'' holidays like Gustav Adolph Day or the Nobel Day. A day's status as a flag day has no formal link with an eventual status as an official or as a ''de facto'' holiday. The official which are flag days. SEVERAL OBSERVANCES AT ONCE There are instances where official holidays, de facto half days, official flagdays and other observances clash and several celebrations may run concurrently. One such case is the April 30 which is immediately followed by May 1 . April 30 is a de facto half day because it is the Walpurgis Eve and the main day for celebrations to the arrival of the spring season. The Following day is actually Walpurgis Day; however, in the calendar it is primarily denoted as May Day, or Labor Day. This means that depending on your sympathies you may either celebrate it as May Day or as Walpurgis Day. In addition to this April 30 is also the King's birthday and official flag day. Also May 1 is an official flag day by virtue of May Day ''or'' Walpurgis day. If either day would fall on a Sunday that day would also in that respect be an official holiday and a Christian holiday, as one of the Sundays following Easter. SEE ALSO |