Working days per year 2023

Working hours per month

In general, when you talk about the number of working hours per month, you usually say 160, or if you talk about the number of working days per year in 2023, you usually say 250, which is often not quite right. This year (2023), for example, there are between 152 and 184 working hours with an average of 169 hours per month or 253 working days (112 days off!). Here in the table below, you can see exactly how many working days, working hours, number of Saturdays and Sundays and other days off, for example red days, Midsummer's Eve, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. On the occasions that a red day coincides with a Saturday or Sunday, it is counted in the Sat & Sun column. We also expect an eight-hour working day. Which days in Sweden count as holidays are regulated in the following Lag (1989: 253) "The Public Holidays Act". The majority are free on the following holidays, even if they happen to coincide with a normal weekday:

Feel free to check out our calendar here on the right, which contains information such as e.g. name days and a little history about what happened on that particular day.

Month	Working days	Working hours	Sat & Sun.	Others
January	22	176	9	1
February	20	160	8	0
March	23	184	8	0
April	18	144	10	3
May	21	168	8	2
June	20	160	8	2
July	21	168	10	0
August	23	184	8	0
September	21	168	9	0
October	22	176	9	0
November	22	176	8	0
December	19	152	10	2
Total annual working hours	252	2016	105	10
Average / Month	21	168	8.75	0.83

Ascension Day

The name of the feast is revealing. The ascension of Christ falls on the 40th day after Easter. The weekend is based on the lunar cycles like many other festive weekends and therefore falls on different dates each year. This day the churches are decorated in white. On the Ascension of Christ, it is celebrated that Jesus left the earth and was taken to heaven. In Sweden, we have historically also called the holiday the grazing release, when the animals were now allowed to go out to pasture. This day has also been associated with being the first day of summer. Winter clothes are put away and women go barefoot. Ascension Day has also gone by the name of Metadar Day, when it was now that summer fishing began. In folklore, one can also call the day the "Pilot of Christ". Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday. There has been a fire like a valborg during the Ascension of Christ. The purpose of these fires is believed to be to scare away wolves. Since the date of the Ascension of Christ varies from year to year and extends between April 30 - June 3, it can fall on the same day as the first of May or Valborg. From this we probably see that these festivals share certain traditions. This day is historically marked with a stamp of freedom in Sweden. Something we have done through the ages is to take the first excursions of the year early in the morning, also called "cuckoo". This is to greet and welcome the warmth of the spring sun. The cuckoo is made at the time in the spring when the cuckoo starts to gala. In modern times, people usually go on picnics and bird watching under cuckoos. In church contexts, services are usually held. Finally, the Ascension of Christ was also a day off in the sense that young people could now socialize without being guarded as strictly by their parents. Outside the church and in modern society, few celebrate Ascension Day for special reasons. It is common for the day to lead to a long weekend when the Ascension of Christ always falls on a Thursday and Friday then becomes a squeezing day. Therefore, most people probably think that the day is somehow worth celebrating.

6 June 1523 – Gustav Vasa – Sweden's National Day

Gustav Vasa's background and rise to power

Gustav Eriksson, better known as Gustav Vasa, was born around 1496 and belonged to one of the most prominent noble families in Sweden. His father, Erik Johansson Vasa, was one of the leading opponents of King Christian II of Denmark, who also ruled Sweden through the Kalmar Union. When Christian II conquered Stockholm in 1520, he had many of his opponents executed, including Gustav Vasa's father, in what became known as the Stockholm Massacre. This brutal action created great outrage in Sweden and lit the spark for an uprising.

The beginning of the rebellion and the resistance against the Danes

After the Stockholm massacre, Gustav Vasa fled to Dalarna to seek support for a rebellion against the Danes. Despite a dubious beginning, where he was almost handed over to the Danes, he managed to convince the Dala farmers of the necessity of an uprising. With their support, he was able to launch a successful guerrilla war against the Danish troops. His successes attracted more and more followers, and soon he had a considerable force under his command.

Sweden breaks with the Kalmar union

Gustav Vasa's rebellion and the growing Swedish resistance movement against Danish supremacy led many Swedish citizens and nobles to question the legitimacy of the Kalmar Union. This union, which had been formed in 1397, united the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden under a single monarch. But many Swedes felt that the union benefited Denmark at Sweden's expense. Gustav Vasa used this feeling to further strengthen his position and argue for an independent Sweden.

Gustav Vasa's coronation and the centralization of power

On June 6, 1523, Gustav Vasa was crowned King of Sweden in Uppsala, which officially marked the end of the Kalmar Union and the beginning of the Vasa Dynasty. As king, Gustav Vasa worked to centralize power and strengthen royal authority. He implemented a series of reforms, including an ecclesiastical reform in which the church's wealth was confiscated, giving the crown increased financial resources. This reform also led to Sweden breaking with the Catholic Church and becoming Protestant.

Gustav Vasa's economic reforms

To consolidate his rule and secure Sweden's economic independence, Gustav Vasa carried out extensive economic reforms. He introduced a more systematic tax collection and took control of copper mining in Stora Kopparberget, which would become one of Sweden's most important sources of income. Through these measures, the king was able to finance his administration and defense without depending on the nobility.

Legacy and aftermath of Gustav Vasa

Gustav Vasa died in 1560, but his legacy lived on through the Vasa dynasty, which would rule Sweden for over a century. His decision to break with the Kalmar Union and establish Sweden as an independent nation still influences the country's identity today. He is often seen as the founder of modern Sweden and is a central figure in Swedish historiography.

June 6 – Sweden's National Day

In memory of Gustav Vasa's coronation day on June 6, this day is now celebrated as Sweden's national day. Although the day did not become an official national day until 1983, it has long been an important day for Swedes. It recalls Sweden's journey to independence and the role Gustav Vasa played in shaping the country's destiny. The day is filled with festivities and reflection on Sweden's rich history.

Gustav Vasa's relationship with the peasants and nobility

Although Gustav Vasa strengthened the royal power, he also carried out reforms that benefited the peasants, and this created a balanced relationship between the royal power, the nobility and the peasant population. To reduce the power of the nobility, he introduced a series of land reforms that limited their ability to exploit the peasantry. At the same time, he recognized the rights of the farmers and ensured that they had representation in the Riksdag. This combination of centralized royal power and respect for the rights of the peasants created a stable foundation for Swedish society.

Cultural and educational heritage

During Gustav Vasa's reign, culture and education also flourished in Sweden. He commissioned the translation of the Bible into Swedish, which resulted in Gustav Vasa's Bible in 1541. This was not only a religious achievement, but also a linguistic and educational one. The Swedish Bible translation played a central role in standardizing the Swedish language and increasing literacy among the population. This investment in education and culture would be decisive for Sweden's progress in the coming centuries.

Military reforms and Sweden's defence

To secure Sweden's independence and protect the country from external threats, Gustav Vasa carried out significant military reforms. He realized the importance of a strong and well-organized defense and therefore established a standing army. In addition, he modernized the fortifications around the country and established a Swedish navy. These initiatives not only strengthened Sweden's military position in the Nordic region, but also gave the country the tools it needed to become a major power in Europe in the coming centuries.

The reform of the legal system

During Gustav Vasa's rule, the Swedish legal system also underwent significant changes. He introduced laws that modernized the medieval legal system and laid the foundation for a more fair and organized judiciary. These reforms included, among other things, the introduction of written legal texts, which reduced arbitrariness in judicial decisions. He also sought to make the legal system more accessible to the common man by reducing the influence of the nobility over local courts.

Communication and infrastructure

To strengthen his rule and improve communication within the kingdom, Gustav Vasa also laid the foundations for the expansion of Sweden's infrastructure. He realized the importance of good communication routes and therefore started investing in the construction of roads and bridges. In addition, he promoted shipping by building harbors and canals. This investment in infrastructure not only brought economic benefits in the form of increased trade and communication, but also helped to tie together the different parts of the kingdom and strengthen national identity.