Why are holidays part of the test?
Knowing about Swedish traditions and holidays helps you understand Swedish society and the culture that many people in Sweden share, regardless of background. On the civics section of the citizenship test, you may get questions about what a particular holiday celebrates, what date it falls on, or what type of holiday it is — for example religious, historical, or tied to the seasons. Below we cover the holidays that are especially important to know.
Spring: Easter and Walpurgis Night
Easter is celebrated in Sweden in March or April and is a Christian holiday commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus. The date varies from year to year because Easter follows a particular calculation linked to the phases of the moon. Many Swedes celebrate Easter even if they are not religious, for example by painting eggs, eating Easter candy, and decorating with Easter twigs (påskris).
Walpurgis Night (Valborgsmässoafton), often simply called Valborg, is celebrated on April 30. This tradition welcomes spring, often with large bonfires, singing and speeches. Valborg is celebrated in many places across Sweden, not least in university towns, and is often associated with the arrival of spring and lighter times ahead.
May Day and Ascension Day
May 1 is Labour Day (Första maj), an international public holiday particularly associated with the labor movement and trade unions. In Sweden, demonstrations and speeches are often held around the country on this day, and it is a public holiday.
Ascension Day (Kristi himmelsfärds dag) is a Christian holiday that falls on a Thursday, forty days after Easter. According to Christian belief, it celebrates Jesus ascending to heaven, and the day is a public holiday in Sweden.
Summer: National Day and Midsummer
Sweden's National Day is celebrated on June 6. The day is linked to important historical events for the country and has, in recent years, become a public holiday.
Midsummer is one of Sweden's most famous traditions and is celebrated around the summer solstice, with Midsummer's Eve falling on a Friday in late June. It is common to dance around a maypole (midsommarstång), eat pickled herring and new potatoes, and celebrate together with family and friends, often outdoors in the countryside.
Autumn and winter: All Saints' Day, Christmas and New Year
All Saints' Day is celebrated in autumn and is a time when many people visit cemeteries and light candles at graves to remember those who have passed away.
On December 13, Sweden celebrates Lucia, with Lucia processions, singing and saffron buns (lussekatter), a tradition widespread in preschools, schools and workplaces throughout Sweden.
Christmas is one of the biggest holidays of the year in Sweden and is celebrated in December, with Christmas Eve on December 24 being the day when many Swedish families celebrate with Christmas food, presents and other traditions. The year ends with New Year's Eve on December 31, when many celebrate with parties and fireworks at midnight to welcome the new year.
How to prepare for the test
When studying for the citizenship test, it's good to know both what a holiday celebrates and roughly when it falls — for example, that May 1 is Labour Day, that Valborg is celebrated on April 30, that Easter is celebrated in March or April to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus, and that New Year's Eve is celebrated on December 31. CitizenPrep helps you practice this type of civics question with practice questions similar to those that may appear on the real test.
Keep in mind that CitizenPrep is a study tool and not an official government service, and that practicing here cannot guarantee that you will pass the citizenship test. The goal is to make you more confident about Swedish traditions and holidays, so that you feel better prepared.