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General information


Population : 10.2 milion people (89th in the World, 16th in Europe)
Total Area : 450,295 km^2 (55th in the World, 5th in Europe)
Official languages : Swedish
Official currency : Swedish krona(SEK)
Capital : Stockholm
Population density : 134 people/km^2 (204th in the World,44th in Europe)
Top 5 biggest cities : Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala, Västerås

The actual age of the kingdom of Sweden is unknown. Establishing the age depends mostly on whether Sweden should be considered a nation when the Svear (Sweonas) ruled Svealand or if the emergence of the nation started with the Svear and the Götar (Geats) of Götaland being united under one ruler. In the first case, Svealand was first mentioned as having one single ruler in the year 98 by Tacitus, but it is almost impossible to know for how long it had been this way. However, historians usually start the line of Swedish monarchs from when Svealand and Götaland were ruled under the same king, namely Eric the Victorious and his son Olof Skötkonung in the 10th century. These events are often described as the consolidation of Sweden, although substantial areas were conquered and incorporated later.

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy and King Carl XVI Gustaf is the head of state, but the role of the monarch is limited to ceremonial and representative functions.Under the provisions of the 1974 Instrument of Government, the King lacks any formal political power.. The King opens the annual Riksdag session, chairs the Special Council held during a change of Government, holds regular Information Councils with the Prime Minister and the Government, chairs the meetings of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs , and receives Letters of Credence of foreign ambassadors to Sweden and signs those of Swedish ambassadors sent abroad. In addition, the King pays State Visits abroad and receives those incoming as host. Apart from strictly official duties, the King and the other members of Royal Family undertake a variety of unofficial and other representative duties within Sweden and abroad.

Sweden is a unitary state divided into 21 county councils (landsting) and 290 municipalities (kommuner). Every county council corresponds to a county (län) with a number of municipalities per county. County councils and municipalities have different roles and separate responsibilities relating to local government. Gotland is a special case of being a county council with only one municipality and the functions of county council and municipality are performed by the same organisation.

The Swedish government has 21 County Administrative Boards (Swedish: länsstyrelser), which are responsible for regional state administration not assigned to other government agencies or local government. Each county administrative boards is led by a County Governor (Swedish: landshövding) appointed for a term of six years. The list of previous officeholders for the counties stretches back, in most cases, to 1634 when the counties were created by Lord High Chancellor Count Axel Oxenstierna. The main responsibility of the County Administrative Board is to co-ordinate the development of the county in line with goals set by the Riksdag and Government.
There are older historical divisions, primarily the twenty-five provinces and three lands, which still retain cultural significance.








National sport : Football

Ice Hockey


Floorball


National animals : Moose(Alces alces)


National plants : Linnaea borealis








The significance of the 6th of June

6 June 1523 represents the crowning of Gustav Vasa as the new King of Sweden. This was the day Sweden was first acknowledge, untill that moment it was part of the “Kalmar Union” ( formed by the union between Denmark, Sweeden and Norway.

Gustav Vasa lead a independence war against the Danes, that lasted for over 2 years, before Sweden would become independent and lay the ground for what would become one of the most powerful nations in northern Europe during the 17th century.


The 6th of June is also the signing of the constituion from 1809.










The story of Gustav Vasa




Gustav Vasa's life reads like an epic Hollywood movie. It is the short story that life itself wrote. Gustav Eriksson Vasa was the son of noblemen. He also had ancestry to be proud of. The Sten Sture royal bloodline was often mentioned. Gustav Vasa experienced his youth during a turbulent time. The Kalmar Union had been founded in 1397 by Danish Queen Margareta. The Scandinavian countries were meant to collaborate. With the help of German aristocrats (one of them, Albrecht von Mecklenburg, even became king), they did.


Kalmar Union flag


Gustav Vasa, born in 1496, was a young man when the Union began falling apart. After the Battle at Brännkyrka, Gustav became a living target. The Danish occupants had the upper hand and started chasing him through Denmark and Germany, until finally Gustav managed to hide in Lübeck. He studied there and built an important network, perhaps even with the Banker family of the Fuggers. This would benefit him later as king. Vasa grew restless. He knew that his native country was occupied by the arch enemy Denmark, so he left in a boat for the east coastal town of Kalmar.

His arrival there on May 31st, 1520 is well documented by a large stone with his inscription. The school children all learn that day by heart, because in retrospect it commemorates the beginning of a new era for Sweden and the beginning of the Swedish Renaissance. The citizens of Kalmar were, however, less enthusiastic. One of the few people to support him was the governor's wife Anna Bielke. The legend has it she stood in the city watchtower waving a white flag acting as false lighthouse.

Her ghost does this until this day and she is called the White Lady. Gustav decided to move on and in doing so made history. He fled through the country, taking a half year to get to Dalarna on foot, hiding in barns and finding ways to escape the Danish occupants with King Christian, who is called "The Tyrant" by the Swedes, at the forefront. Vasa spoke to the citizens of Dalarna, saying that he would change everything if he was chosen King of Sweden. But as in Kalmar, they reacted in a cold way.

King Christian set up a kind of kangaroo trial on Stockholm's main square, judging and killing hundreds of Swedish aristocrats, Gustav's family, their bodies strewn about to terrorize the Swedes. Gustav fled Dalarna on skies, running the first "Vasa-Marathon" that thousands after him did on skies. The people of Dalarna changed their mind, running after him, probably aware of how extreme the situation was. Gustav's career took off. He became leader of Dalarna and in 1521 "Riksförestandare", which means chairman of the land.

In 1523, Gustav became king, restructuring and defending the country with the help of his old city of Lübeck, where he had forgotten his shirt, that still is there on display. Gustav

When Gustav was officially crowned king in 1527, he reformed the laws, reorganized the kingdom, strengthened the country and started paying back his war debts to Lübeck. He did this using the golden treasures from the church.

Sweden was now strong. The foundation for what would later become a superpower was laid, Not by Gustavus II Adolphus, but by Vasa and his sons. Not everyone liked that. Nils Dacke was a normal citizen who hated Vasa. He claimed that life had been better during the Kalmar Union and gathered many followers with his powerful personality and loud voice. In 1542, he started a revolution against the Swedish crown that catapulted Sweden into violent civil war. Dacke was killed in the end, his head stuck at the end of a pole outside the walls of Kalmar Castle as a warning.

The last 18 years of Vasa's life would prove to be relatively war free.





Top 5 places visited by tourists


Stockholm




Vasa Museum


Royal Palace


Skokloster palace





Stockholm, a pretty city set on 14 islands, has a lot going for it as Sweden’s capital and the largest city in Scandinavia. Founded in the 13th century, Stockholm is where the annual Nobel Prizes are given out. The Vasa Museum, dedicated to a 17th century warship that sank on its maiden voyage, is Scandinavia’s most visited museum. Stockholm is easier on your budget than other Nordic cities, offering free admission to 15 museums, including the Swedish History, Medieval Museum, Royal Armoury and Skokloster Castle. You also won’t want to miss the Royal Palace, Modern Art Museum and City Hall.



Gotland Island










As Sweden’s largest island, surrounded totally by the Baltic Sea, you’d think fishing would be the island’s main industry. Not so. Agriculture, tourism and information technology are among the top industries. The island is one of Sweden’s most popular tourist destinations; sun seekers like it because it has more sunlight during the year than any other place in Sweden. Visby, the only city on the island, is a beautiful walled Hanseatic town which has preserved most of its townscape and historic buildings. There are also around 100 medieval churches and countless prehistoric sites on the island.



Gothenburg






Kungsparken


Liseberg

Gothenburg, located on Sweden’s west coast, is a green city dotted with numerous parks of all sizes. Many of the parks date back to the 19th century, including Kungsparken, a park that circles the canal that rings around the city center. If you’re more interested in amusement parks, head to Liseberg, which has more rides than any amusement park in Scandinavia. The largest port city in Scandinavia, Gothenburg also boasts the region’s largest film festival as well as numerous music festivals throughout the year. Try a haga bulle, a large cinnamon roll at Haga, a district known for its picturesque wooden houses.



Swedish Lapland










If it’s wilderness adventure you’re seeking, there’s no better place to visit in Sweden than Swedish Lapland. Located in the far north above the Arctic Circle where summer shines around the clock. Lapland is for canoers, hikers and viewers of wildlife. Swedish Lapland is inhabited by the hardy, indigenous Sami. Who live in massive forests and barren tundra. A good way to experience the region is to drive the 359-km long Wilderness Way from the canoeing center at Stromsund to the terminus at Vilhelmina, a church town, via Fatmomakke, where you’ll see traditional wooden huts. Winter visitors can buy reindeer hides at Jokkmokk, the center of Sami life.





Scania (Skåne)


Ven island port




New and old in a single image


Lund University

The southern part of Sweden offers both some nice cities and great nature. Ven is an island by the coast that offers good views and good biking. Something old, something new is perhaps the best way to describe Malmö, a medieval historic city with a landscape that’s studded with modern, contemporary buildings. Lund, an old university town close to Malmö, really worth visiting.







Top 3 locations suggested by the locals

Stockholm archipelago




Vaxholm fortress



If you’re into island hopping, then touring the Stockholm archipelago could be just your cup of akavit. Obviously, you won’t have time to visit every island since there are 30,000 of them – big rocks jutting up from the sea count here. Ferries serve major points in the archipelago, beginning with a 10-minute boat ride from Stockholm. Visit a World War I fortress at Starofortet or Vaxholm, the “capital” of the archipelago with its ornate buildings and a history of herring fishing. Indulge yourself at a spa in Nacka, the closest to Stockholm and accessible by motor vehicle.

Smögen





Smögen is well known for its long, wooden pier, about 600 m, filled with shops in old fishing huts, which are frequented by a multitude of tourists during the summer. Smögen is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Swedish west coast, well known for its fish, prawns and other seafood, and one of Sweden's few fish markets is located here. There is also an extensive nightlife scene, with many bars, clubs and concert venues open during the summer.

Ystad


Greyfriars abbey


Church of the Virgin Mary


Ales Stenar

Ystad, a coastal town in southern Sweden, is sure to draw sleuths and murder mystery fans. Noted author Henning Mankell set his Kurt Wallender detective novels in Ystad and the surrounding area. Notable buildings you’ll find used in his books include Greyfriars Abbey, one of Sweden’s best preserved medieval monasteries, and the Church of the Virgin Mary, a large medieval church; both are outstanding examples of Gothic Hansa architecture. A walking tour over cobblestone streets also will take you past picturesque pastel-colored half-timbered buildings. A walk on the town’s pretty sandy beaches is called for, too. East of Ystad is the megalithic monument of Ales Stenar, consisting of 59 large boulders forming a stone ship.






Inventions Sweden gave to the world!

*Celsius temperature scale!
*by Anders Celsius in 1742.



*Modern zipper!
* by Gideon Sundbäck, 1906


*The three-point seat belt!
* by Nils Bohlin in 1951


*Dynamite!
*by Alfred Nobel in 1866




*Swedish wrench!
*by Johan Petter Johansson










Famous people from Sweden


Ingvar Kamprad - was a Swedish business magnate. He was the founder of IKEA, a multinational retail company specialising in furniture.

(1926 - 2018)


Zlatan Ibrahimovic - is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a forward for LA Galaxy. He also played 116 times for the Sweden national team in a 15-year international career. Primarily a striker, he is a prolific goalscorer, who is best known for his technique, creativity, strength, ability in the air, and his powerful and accurate striking ability. He is currently the second-most decorated active footballer in the world, having won 32 trophies in his career

(born 1981)


Dag Hammarskjöld - was a Swedish diplomat, economist, and author who served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 1961. At the age of 47 years upon his appointment, Hammarskjöld was the youngest to have held the post. Additionally, he is one of only four people to be awarded a posthumous Nobel Prize and was the only United Nations Secretary-General to die while in office. He was killed in a DC-6 airplane crash en route to cease-fire negotiations during the Congo Crisis.

(1905-1961)



Avicii - Tim Bergling , better known by his stage name Avicii , was a Swedish musician, DJ, remixer and record producer.

At 16, Bergling began posting his remixes on electronic music forums, which led to his first record deal.He rose to prominence in 2011 with his single "Levels". His debut studio album, True (2013), blended electronic music with elements of multiple genres and received generally positive reviews. It peaked in the top ten in more than fifteen countries and topped international dance charts; the lead single, "Wake Me Up", topped most music markets in Europe and reached number four in the United States.

In 2015, Bergling released his second studio album, Stories. Bergling was nominated for a Grammy Award for his work on "Sunshine" with David Guetta in 2012 and "Levels" in 2013. Several music publications credit Bergling as among the DJs who ushered electronic music into Top 40 radio in the early 2010s.
Bergling retired from touring in 2016 due to health problems. He died on 20 April 2018 in Muscat, Oman, aged 28.

(1989 -2018)


Ingrid Bergman - was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is best remembered for her roles as Ilsa Lund in Casablanca (1942), and as Alicia Huberman in Notorious (1946), an Alfred Hitchcock thriller also starring Cary Grant and Claude Rains.

(1915-1982)








Traditional food


Meatballs



A very popular meal in Sweden, often served with mashed potatoes, brown sauce, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumber.

Smörgåstårta - (Sandwich cake)



A type of cake made by several layers of white bread with creamy fillings in between, often with egg and mayonnaise, topped with shrimps, ham and different fruits and vegetables.

Surströmming (Sour herring)



Some sort of fermented herring that swedish people eat in late August every year. (In)famous for its strong smell. “The biggest challenge when eating surströmming is to vomit only after the first bite, as opposed to before" - German food critic Wolfgang Fassbender.


Isterband



A Swedish type of sausage made of pork, barley groats and potato. Often served with creamed dill potato.

Falukorv



Another common type of sausage in Sweden. Its name comes from the city of Falun where there was a copper mine. A lot of ox hide was needed for the ropes and they had to do something with the meat.

Pickled herring



Herring pickled by the use of acetic acid, water, sugar, ground allspice, red onion, carrot and salt.

Kebab Pizza



You will find tons of places where you can eat pizza in every Swedish town, but did you know that kebab is the most popular topping in Sweden?
“The kebab pizza is a Swedish invention which combines Italian and Turkish cuisine in a way that might horrify Italians and Turks.”

Crisp Bread(Knäckebröd)



Often served together with the main course.


Traditional desserts

Ahlgrens bilar



Marketed as the most sold car in Sweden, this is popular, although it’s very similar too marshmallow.


Kladdkaka



A dense and gooey chocolate cake, Kladdkaka will surely delight lovers of chocolatey desserts. This decadent treat is topped with icing sugar and is typically served with fresh fruit and cream or ice-cream(or all of them if you want!)

Swedish Princess cake



This iconic and traditional Swedish cake, known as prinsesstarta, consists of layers of cream, sponge cake and jam (all the good stuff.) It is topped with green marzipan as well as a pink marzipan rose before it is left to chill and later serve.

Semla



Semla, a cream-filled bun, is a familiar sight in Swedish bakeries. The roll in Semla is flavoured with cardomom and the cream filling is comprised of almond paste and whipped cream.

Ostkaka



Ostkaka, known as Swedish cheesecake, is unlike the conventional cheesecakes that we are familiar with in that it is denser in texture and a lot less sweet. It is traditionally made by curdling fresh milk with rennet but is more commonly made with cottage cheese today. Ostkaka is typically eaten lukewarm and can be served with fruit jams, fresh fruit and cream.

Appelkaka



Appelkaka, or apple cake, is one of the most common desserts served in Swede eateries. It is typically accompanied with a generous helping of vanilla sauce and while its appearances seem to be a cross between a pie and cake, it definitely belongs to the 'cake' category in swedish cuisine.


Traditional drinks

Julmust

A very popular soft drink during christmas in Sweden. Swedish people consume 50 % less Coke during the Christmas, which is pretty interesting. This made the Coca-Cola Company a bit annoyed some years ago and ordered their distributor in Sweden to stop selling the product. It’s also sold under the name “påskmust” during easter (påst = easter).


Mulled Wine(Glögg)



Another popular beverage in Sweden during christmas.

Coffee



Swedes prefer to have their coffee quite strong. We also drink a lot, average 3.2 cups per person each day, only Finns drinks more per capita!

It is usually served with a cinnamon roll.








Interesting facts about Sweden


1.Despite being a military power in the 17th century and one of the world’s largest producers of weapons, Sweden has not participated in any war for almost two centuries, including both world wars.
2.Around 2,000 years ago, the Svear people gave Sweden its name. In their language, svear meant “us” and rike meant “kingdom.” So, Sverige, the modern Swedish name of the country, means “Our Kingdom.”
3.Sweden has had seven Nobel Prize winners in Literature, including Selma Lagerlöf, who was the first woman to win the prize in 1909. Her birthplace at Mårbacka is a national shrine.
4.The Swedish monarchy is one of the oldest in the world. It dates back a thousand years and has included 11 dynasties, with the current one, the House of Bernadotte, ruling the longest. Jean Baptiste Bernadotte was the first of his line on the Swedish throne. He was born in France in 1763 and was named heir to the throne in 1810. He changed his name to Carl XIV Johan. The Swedish royal family is related to all the reigning royal courts of Europe.
5.Sweden has won 625.5 Olympics medals in total. 475.5 are from the Summer Olympics (one gold is shared with Denmark), and 150 are from the Winter Olympics.
6.ABBA is the fourth-best selling music act in history, after Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Michael Jackson. The group has sold over 375 million records worldwide. At one point, ABBA was second only to Volvo as Sweden’s biggest export earner.
7.Wasps actually kill more people directly than any other animal in Sweden, about one per year.
8.Sweden has about 20,000 Sámi living in the country today. Since 1993, this indigenous people have had their own parliament. In 2000, the Swedish government officially recognized Sámi as an official language.
9.The Minecraft world-building video game was Swedish programmer Markus “Notch” Persson’s one-man hobby project. It is basically a digital version of Lego. Minecraft contributed to Persson’s company Mojang’s 2013 record profit of 325 million kronor (approx. US$39.1 million). Mojang means “gadget” in Swedish.
10.Sweden’s Uppsala University is home to a famous 4th-century silver Bible that some consider the world’s most valuable book. The incomplete version of the New Testament in ancient Gothic language was written on parchment with silver and gold ink.






My 5 words when I hear about Sweden:
#Nobel,#Kingdom,#Vikings,#IKEA,#Gustav(is it just me... or all your kings are named like this)

What are your 5?





Special thanks to zzzingo,I am still waiting for the message from them.



I leave you with some Swedish memes:



















Waiting for feedback , comments , opinions and if there is anyone that thinks I missed something , I could do something better or just wants to help me with this project , PM me !

Special thanks to Kariky for the spacers !!




Hope you enjoyed and see you next time!

P.S. Article 51/74!









P.S.2. Don't forget to push the flags !