Swedish holidays 2022

Holidays and traditions are held in high regard in Sweden; for example, Christmas plans are usually made as early as October. Customs are very important to the Swedish – so much so that on Christmas Eve there is a set schedule for when they attend the church service, eat Christmas dinner, and open presents. In celebration of the traditional pagan festival of Walpurgis Night, young people gather around bonfires across the country.

Swedes dress up as witches on Easter and dance around a maypole instead of a bonfire during the midsummer festivities. It is common practice in Sweden for working days to be shortened by two or four hours before a public holiday. The day preceding Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Midsummer Day is always a non-working day.

If there is one day between a holiday and the weekend, this is usually given as a day off. As that day is squeezed between the holiday and the weekend, it is called klämdag or squeeze day.

Although it is customary for shops to be closed on public holidays, Sweden is somewhat more progressive than Finland and Norway when it comes to religious holidays. Thus you can find more businesses open during the holidays in Sweden than in neighbouring countries and some bigger stores are even open throughout the holidays.

In Sweden, name days and birthdays of members of the Royal Family are official flag days. Flags are also flown on Election Day. The flag is usually hoisted at 8 or 9 a.m. and lowered no later than 9 p.m.

Holidays and observances celebrated in Sweden in 2022 are listed below together with the corresponding Swedish-language holiday greetings and well-wishes. Flag-flying days are marked in black and public holidays are marked in red.

1 January 2022 – New Year’s Day

Gott nytt år! (Happy New Year!)

Önskar dig ett glädjefullt och framgångsrikt nytt år! (I wish you a joyous and prosperous new year!)

28 January 2022 — Name day of King Carl XVI Gustaf

6 January 2022 – Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day

God trettondag! (Happy Epiphany!)

God fortsättning på julen! (Have a good rest in the holiday season!) This greeting can be used up until Epiphany.  

12 March 2022 – Name day of Crown Princess Victoria

15 April 2022 – Good Friday

God helg! (Happy holidays!)

17 April 2022 – Easter Sunday

Glad påsk! (Happy Easter!)

18 April 2022 – Easter Monday

Glad påsk! (Happy Easter!)  

30 April 2022 – Birthday of King Carl XVI Gustaf

1 May 2022 – May Day

Glad valborg! (Happy Walpurgis Night!)

Glad första maj! (Happy May Day!)

26 May 2022 – Ascension Day

Glad Kristi himmelsfärd! (Happy Ascension Day!)

5 June 2022 – Pentecost

Glad pingstdag! (Happy Pentecost!)

6 June 2022 – National Day of Sweden

Glad nationaldag! (Happy National Day!)

25 June 2022 – Midsummer Day

Glad midsommar! (Happy Midsummer!)

14 July 2022 – Birthday of Crown Princess Victoria

8 August 2022 – Name day of Queen Silvia

11 September 2022 – Election Day

5 November 2022 – All Souls’ Day

Glad alla helgons dag! (Happy All Souls’ Day!)

24 December 2022 – Christmas Eve

25 December 2022 – Christmas Day

26 December 2022 – Second day of Christmas

God jul! (Merry Christmas!)