Ascension Day public holiday in Sweden

Swedes are said to go into the woods very early in the morning to hear the birds at sunrise on ascension day, but personally I’ve never seen anyone do that. But it is said to be good luck if a cuckoo is heard from the east or west. This is superstition that applies to any day and any cuckoo though.

But really ascension is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven. However religiosity in Sweden plays a limited role compared to the European average. In a Eurobarometer Poll in 2010, just 18% of Swedish citizens responded that ”they believe there is a god”. Still ascension is a public holiday because whether you’re religious or not you want your days off, right!?

Sunday hours apply to public holidays such as ascension. A few restaurants are closed but museums have their busiest days on public holidays.

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