There are many unique Swedish holidays and many traditions that go along with them. One of the holidays is St. Lucia day. This is a day that celebrates a young saint who lived in the fourth century. One of the legends is that the saint was so devoted to her religion, that when a Roman soldier told her to renounce her religion, and she refused, he killed her. One of the traditions is that the oldest daughter in the family wakes up early and dresses in a white robe with a red belt. She wears a wreath with candles on her head and sings traditional songs. Another holiday is Swedish National day. This holiday takes place on June 6th and it celebrates when in 1523 Sweden became independent from the Danish. There is a big parade through Stockholm and usually a party or two. Another holiday is Midsummer. This is a holiday that celebrates the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year. People gather flowers and make large wreaths to put on their houses and smaller wreaths to wear on their heads. There is also the Maypole, which is a giant pole where people gather to sing and dance, and there is a huge feast with fruits and other dishes. Though these holidays seem different from ours, not all of them are, for instance, we share Christmas day, and New Years day. Just like our holidays, the Swedish holidays all have a purpose, and a story behind them.~Brendan
