National Day

Today is the National Day of Sweden. Is it a big holiday? Not really. Last year was actually the first time it was a public holiday. June 6 has only been the official National Day since 1982. Before that the day was called The Swedish Flag Day. Former conservative PM Carl Bildt has more about how June 6 became the Swedish National Day in his excellent blog.

Sweden has always been a little afraid to display and boast Sweden and its flag, at least in my opinion. Mainly because it could be used the wrong way, i.e. by the right wing extremists. Also the Swedish mentality that everything should be lagom probably plays a big role here as well. Lagom is a word that really can’t be translated, but I would say that it means something like stay in the middle of the road. Don’t do things too good, but don’t do things too bad either. Just be lagom. If you do things lagom nobody can come down on you for not doing things too bad or too good. Just blend in with the rest of the masses.

I personally don’t like the word lagom. Why shouldn’t we boast the good things and try not talk about the bad things? Life shouldn’t be lived in a dull middle of the road style. It should be lived to the fullest, with both ups and down, and with lot of passion. OK, that was a bit of sidetrack, and very much personal view.

Communication expert Colin Moon writes a lot more about lagom and other things in his books Sweden - The secret files and Sweden - More secret files. All about Sweden and Swedes seen from a foreigner’s perspective. Hilarious reading for a Swede and quite informative for a non-Swede. This is who we are. Can’t do much about it. We are Swedes after all… And as much as I like to see myself as citizen of the world, or of Europe at least, I will always be a proud Swede no matter what. With amusing quirks and Swenglish.