Religion and Holidays
Religion and Holidays
Swedish stereotypes have the rest of world perceiving Sweden to be an icy, desolate country teeming with identical tall, blonde and friendly people. While the Swedes are extremely hospitable, the country itself is actually quite diverse, especially in modern day. This can be seen most prominently in the religion of Sweden. While Christianity was the predominant religion of Sweden, following the abandonment of Norse religion, today membership to the Lutheran Church of Sweden is dropping rapidly every day. This may be because of Sweden’s recent denouncement of a state-recognized church, as well as the growing diversification of population as more immigrants live in Sweden, bringing different religions and cultures with them.
Sources: svenskakyrkan.se, wingia.com, sst.a.se, fokus.se, sr.se
Throughout history, Sweden has been a predominately Christian country, which is reflected in a majority of the holidays. “Röda dagar”, or “red holidays” are those celebrated publicly, though it is important to note that a majority of Swedes celebrate on the eve of the holiday. Despite being regarded as widely Christian, the country is very secular, and holidays are not celebrated by church attendance, but rather by spending time with friends and family. Instead of staying in, a majority heads outside in favor of skiing, ice fishing, canoeing, and hiking.
The most celebrated are Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, and Midsummer’s Eve. While both winter holidays are celebrated rather similarly across the world, Midsummer’s Eve is a truly Swedish experience, harkening back to a pagan heritage. With maypoles, ring-dancing, and feasting, Midsummer is celebrated almost exclusively in the countryside, cities being deserted in favor of the lush green forests and valleys.
IMPLICATIONS FOR REI
It is important to note that holidays in Sweden are spent reveling in nature, choosing to spend time with one another outside. With such diverse seasons, as well as a population of ten million eager to head outdoors in search of adventure, it is essential that there is a location which can provide the resources and community an REI Co-op can.
