Sweden Flag

Flag Date of Adoption

22 June 1906

Flag Symbolism

The exact age of the Swedish Flag is not known, but the oldest recorded pictures of a blue cloth with a yellow cross date from the 16th century. As decreed in a royal warrant of 1569, the yellow cross was always to be borne on Swedish battle standards and banners, as the Swedish Coat of Arms was blue divided quarterly by a cross of gold. The design of the Swedish flag is probably taken from the Danish flag, and its blue and yellow colours possibly come from the Coat of Arms. Not until the 1620s-i.e., during the reign of Gustav II Adolf-do we find any reliable evidence of the blue flag with a yellow cross being carried by Swedish vessels. According to our oldest existing flag warrant, from 1663, a triple-tailed flag was to be used except by merchant ships, whose flag was square-cut. Nowadays the use of the triple-tailed pennon is reserved for the Royal Family and the armed forces. The Royal Family may also charge its flags either with the Lesser or the Greater Coat of Arms in the centre of the cross.

Since 1916, 6 June has been celebrated as the Swedish Flag Day. This finally also became Sweden's National Day in 1983. The reasons for the choice of date are twofold: the election of Gustav Vasa as Sweden's king on 6 June 1523 laid the foundation of Sweden as a separate state; and on the same date in 1809, Sweden adopted a new constitution which included the establishment of civil rights and liberties.

Sweden National Anthem

Listen to National Anthem

Anthem Lyrics

"Du gamla, du fria"

1) Du gamla, du fria, du fjällhöga Nord, du tysta, du

glädjerika sköna! Jag hälsar dig, vänaste land uppå jord,

din sol, din himmel, dina ängder gröna. Din sol, din

himmel, dina ängder gröna.

2) Du tronar på minnen från fornstora dar, då ärat dit

namn flög över jorden. Jag vet, att du är och du blir vad

du var. Ja, jag vill leva, jag vill dö i Norden. Ja, jag vill

leva, jag vill dö i Norden.

Anthem Lyrics English

Thou ancient, thou freeborn, thou mountainous North,

In beauty and peace our hearts beguiling,

I greet thee, thou loveliest land on the earth,

Thy sun, thy skies, thy verdant meadows smiling.

Thy sun, thy skies, thy verdant meadows smiling.

Thy throne rests on mem’ries from great days of yore,

When worldwide renown was valour’s guerdon.

I know to thy name thou art true as before.

Oh, I would live and I would die in Sweden,

Oh, I would live and I would die in Sweden.

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