Sweden Finns' Day (; ) is an anniversary celebrated in Sweden on 24 February. The anniversary was approved by the Swedish Academy in 2010, and was held for the first time in 2011."Sverigefinländarnas dag firas den 24 februari" - Finland.se (in Swedish) 24 February was chosen as the date of the anniversary, as this was also the birthday of Carl Axel Gottlund, a collector of folk poetry and a defender of the status of the Finnish language.Pressmeddelande om Sverigefinnarnas dag - Finlandsinstitutet (in Swedish) The purpose of the day is to celebrate the Sweden Finns and to recognize their history, language and culture as a part of Sweden's cultural heritage.Sverigefinnarnas dag - Swedish Academy (in Swedish)
Municipalities that have a significant Finnish-speaking minority raise the Sweden Finnish flag on Sweden Finns' Day.Ruotsinsuomalaisten lippu liehuu yli 50 kunnassa ruotsinsuomalaisten päivänä - Sisuradio (in Finnish) However, this is not an official Flag Day.Ruotsinsuomalaisten päivä kalenteriin - Sisuradio (in Finnish) The anniversary is observed in various parts of Sweden, including Stockholm, Eskilstuna, Gothenburg, Västerås and Nykvarn. The day's program has included concerts, dance performances, writer visits, karaoke dances and theater performances for children. For example, in 2017, more than a thousand people attended the celebration at Stockholm City Hall.Ruotsinsuomalaisten päivä valtasi Tukholman keskustan - SVT News (in Finnish) In 2013 in particular, the celebration was significant in many places, when the day was celebrated with official ceremonies for the first time.Hieno ruotsinsuomalaisten päivä, paitsi kookosleivät liian kovia - Ruotsinsuomalaisten päivä - Sisuradio (in Finnish)
In 2019, the seal was voted by the listeners of SR's Finnish-language channel Sveriges Radio Finska (formerly known as Sisuradio) as the symbolic national animal of the Sweden Finns.Ruotsinsuomalaisten kansalliseläin on hylje - Ruotsinsuomalaisten päivä - Sisuradio (in Finnish)
See also Sweden Finns Meänkieli Torne Valley
References
External links Extra festligt på Sverigefinnarnas dag i år at Minoritet.se (in Swedish)