FACTS

Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Area (only Total) total: 449,964 sq km

Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Population: 9,045,389 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Swedish

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital (Name): Stockholm

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence: 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

National holiday: Swedish Flag Day, 6 June (1916); National Day, 6 June (1983)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

January 5 Eve of Epiphany (banks close early)

January 6 Epiphany

April 5 Maundy Thursday (Half Day)

March 21 Good Friday

March 23 Easter

March 24 Easter Monday

April 30 King's Birthday

May 1 May Day

May 1 Ascension (Officially 1 day but often two in practice)

May 11 Whit Monday

June 6 National Day

June 21 Midsummer Day

November 1 All Saint's Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 Boxing Day

December 31 New Year's Eve (bank holiday)

You should know:

Note that the eve of a holiday is as important or more so than the holiday itself. Most Swedes have the day off, including civil servants, banks, public transport workers, hospitals, shops and media workers. Others have at least a half day. This applies especially to Midsummer's Eve, All Saints Day Eve and Christmas Eve. The eve of May Day is sometimes called Valborg Eve.

Most Swedes take their vacation in July.

Non-Holiday Observances

February 14 St Valentine's Day

April 1 April Fools' Day

May Last Sunday Mothers' Day

November 2nd Sunday Father's Day

December 10 Nobel Day (Flags must be flown)

December 13 St Lucia Day (early morning celebrations

Weekend - Saturday, Sunday