The Day of the Swedish Language in Finland
Svenska dagen, or the Day of the Swedish Language, is celebrated in Finland every year on November 6th. The day honors the Swedish-speaking population of Finland and highlights the importance of bilingualism in Finnish society.
The date was chosen to coincide with the death of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in 1632, a historical figure who played a significant role in shaping the Swedish Empire. Svenska dagen was first celebrated in 1908, initiated by the Swedish People’s Party of Finland, as a way to promote unity and mutual respect between Finnish and Swedish speakers.
Svenska dagen – Celebrating Finland’s Linguistic Heritage and Cultural Diversity
Today, Svenska dagen is a symbol of Finland’s cultural diversity and linguistic heritage. It reminds us that Swedish is one of Finland’s three official languages and that the Swedish-speaking community has contributed greatly to the country’s history, arts, and public life.
Events across the country include speeches, concerts, and awards recognizing individuals who have strengthened bilingualism and cultural understanding. It’s a day to celebrate not just language, but also inclusion and shared identity.
The Historical Roots and Modern Presence of the Swedish Language in Finland
Swedish has been spoken in Finland for centuries. It is not known exactly when Swedish began to be spoken in what is now Finland, but there is clear evidence from the 12th century. At that time, Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. It was often referred to as the ”Eastern part of the realm.” This remained the case for 700 years, until 1809, when Finland became a Grand Duchy under Russian rule. In 1917, during the Russian Revolution, Finland became an independent republic.
Even though more than 200 years have passed since Sweden lost Finland, there are still about 290,000 people in Finland today who speak Swedish as their mother tongue. They are known as Finland-Swedes. Finland-Swedes make up just over five percent of the population. The majority of the population speaks Finnish as their native language. Most Finland-Swedes live in the coastal areas of southern and western Finland. The variety of Swedish they speak is called Finland Swedish.
All member destinations in the Cruise Finland network are representatives of the Swedish-speaking Finland.
Cruise Finland has a very good networking program going on with cruise lines and we are very confident for the future. For more information, please visit www.cruisefinland.com and find us on LinkedIn: here.
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