Sweden Day is a
Midsummer
Midsummer is a celebration of the season of summer usually held at a date around the summer solstice. It has pagan pre-Christian roots in Europe.
The undivided Christian Church designated June 24 as the feast day of the early Christian martyr ...
celebration honoring
Swedish American
Swedish Americans ( sv, svenskamerikaner) are Americans of Swedish ancestry. They include the 1.2 million Swedish immigrants during 1865–1915, who formed tight-knit communities, as well as their descendants and more recent immigrants.
Today, ...
heritage and history, held annually in New York City since 1941.
This celebration went on hiatus in 1942–45 & 2020.
Festival
The Sweden Day Committee of
greater New York sponsors the annual Sweden Day. This traditional event occurs during the
summer solstice at Manhem Club, on the sound in
Throggs Neck
Throggs Neck (also known as Throgs Neck) is a neighborhood and peninsula in the south-eastern portion of the borough of the Bronx in New York City. It is bounded by the East River and Long Island Sound to the south and east, Westchester Creek on ...
, New York. This festival of Midsummer features the raising of the
maypole, traditional food, music, folk dancing, games, prizes and camaraderie. Entertainment is provided by The Swedish Folkdancers of New York.
Each year one or more persons or organizations are honored for having made a significant contribution or having made outstanding achievements within the
Swedish American
Swedish Americans ( sv, svenskamerikaner) are Americans of Swedish ancestry. They include the 1.2 million Swedish immigrants during 1865–1915, who formed tight-knit communities, as well as their descendants and more recent immigrants.
Today, ...
community. Key events include the selection of the annual Miss Sweden Day Contest and Sweden Day Man of the Year.
In
Sweden, Midsummer's Eve and Midsummer's Day (Swedish: ''Midsommarafton'' and ''Midsommardagen'') are traditionally celebrated from the eve of the Friday between the week of June 19–25. The event is considered to be one of the most important holiday of the year and one of the most uniquely Swedish in the way in which it is celebrated.
Sweden Day Scholarship
Annually Sweden Day Committee Scholarship Awards are announced during the Sweden Day festivities. Scholarship are available to students entering or enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or technical program leading to a certificate or degree. The scholarships are named in honor of Alvalene and T. Edward Karlsson, who served for many years as editors of the Swedish language newspaper, ''
Nordstjernan''.
T. Edward and Alvalene P. Karlsson Scholarship
(The United Swedish Societies, Inc.)
See also
*NYC Midsummer NYC Midsummer or Swedish Midsummer is a Swedish midsummer celebration organized since 1996 in one of New York City's parks on the Friday afternoon close to the June solstice, or St John's Day. For several years now, Battery Park City in lower Manh ...
* National Day of Sweden
* Holidays in Sweden
*Swedish festivities
Life of Swedish people
Over 70% of Swedish people belong to the Lutheran Church of Sweden, but seldom go to church. Attendance is a bit higher among members of free churches such as Pentecostalists and the Salvation Army. Christenings, wedding ...
References
Other Soureces
*Lorenzen, Lily (1992) ''Of Swedish Ways'' (Harper Perennial)
* Lago, Don (2004) ''On the Viking Trail: Travels in Scandinavian America'' (University Of Iowa Press)
*Winquist, Alan H. (2006) ''Touring Swedish America: Where to Go and What to See'' (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
External links
Sweden Day Official WebsiteSwedish Midsummer Ring Dances In New YorkMidsummer Ring Dancing at Sweden Day
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Cultural festivals in the United States
Festivals in New York City
June observances
Summer festivals
Swedish-American culture in New York (state)
Swedish-American history
Throggs Neck, Bronx