Gustavus Adolphus Day
 | It has been suggested that Gustavus Adolphus Pastry be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2014. |
| Gustavus Adolphus Day | |
|---|---|
 Gustavus Adolphus pastry, a pastry sold in the week of Gustavus Adolphus Day | |
| Observed by | Sweden, Finland |
| Significance | Anniversary of the death of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden at the Battle of Lützen (1632) |
| Date | November 6 |
| Next time | 6 November 2024 |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Finnish Swedish Heritage Day |
Gustavus Adolphus Day (Swedish: Gustav Adolfsdagen) is celebrated in Sweden and some other countries on November 6 in memory of king Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, who was killed on that date (old style) in 1632 at the Battle of Lützen in the Thirty Years' War.[1] The day is named after the king,[2] and is a general flagging day in Sweden.[3][2] The day was formerly celebrated with torchlight processions and patriotic speeches.[2]
According to the Gregorian calendar, the king died on 16 November, but the Julian calendar ("old style") was still used in Protestant Sweden at the time and the same date is still used now.
Gustavus Adolphus Day has been celebrated since early 19th century, and got popular especially after the 200 year's celebration of the king's death in 1832.[4] In Sweden, the day is observed especially in Gothenburg, which was founded by the king,[4][2] but also in cities with old school/univeristy traditions[4] such as Uppsala, where he donated considerable funding to the university, and in cities where the militaries have been traditionally been based.[4] It is generally not celebrated in Skåne[citation needed], the southernmost part of Sweden, since Scania was part of Denmark at the time and Gustavus Adolphus waged war on Denmark. The day is also celebrated in Finland since 1908 by the Swedish speakers as Svenska dagen,[4] Finnish Swedish Heritage Day", and is a customary flagging day. In Estonia, which like Finland was a part of Sweden during the reign of Gustavus Adolphus, the day is known as Gustav Adolfi päev. In all three countries, 6 November is the name day for Gustav Adolf, Gustavus Adolphus' name in Swedish.[5] or Kustaa Aadolf, the name in Finnish. [6]
A special pastry is eaten for this day, the Gustavus Adolphus pastry[7] with no standard recipe but a chocolate or marzipan relief of that king on top.[2] The pastry was first created around the previous turn of the century[4][2] and, like the day itself, is particularly popular in Gothenburg.
Sjättenovembervägen ("Sixth November Road"), a part of the old Göta highway in the Stockholm borough Älvsjö is named for this day.
References
- ^ Steve Wilson. "The genius of Sweden's 'Lion of the North'". Military History Online. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "Gustav Adolfs-bakelsens historia" (in Swedish). Danska wienerbageriet. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
- ^ "Flag days - Sweden". Flags of the World. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Nationalencyklopedin, Gustav Adolfsdagen
- ^ "Swedish namedays in Finland". Vardsvenska. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ "Finnish namedays". Vardsvenska. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ^ ifood.tv. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
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