New Year's Day: With celebrations taking place throughout the eve before this holiday, the majority of Swedes treat this as a day to relax and recover from the night before.

Sami Holiday: Sweden's indigenous minority observe a holiday in early February, where the Sami celebrate their culture and take a day of rest from work.

Easter: celebrations take place on three different days - Good Friday, Easter Day and Easter Monday – with Easter Day being most people’s favourite day, when chocolate eggs are hidden and found. The day before Good Friday, known as Maundy Thursday, is also a shortened workday for Swedes. There is also a school holiday over Easter, so expect a lot of schoolchildren at popular attractions during this time.

April's Fool's Day: this is a day for pranksters and jokes, with trickery taking place across the country. Join in and try to fool someone!

Walpurgis Night: the arrival of spring is celebrated at the very end of April, with festivities varying depending on what part of the country you are in, with popular events including bonfires, speeches and fireworks. This is also a shortened work day for most people.

Labour Day: this political holiday is a day for parades, speeches and socialist demonstrations, and is a national public holiday.

Ascension Day: this Christian holiday is observed 39 days after Easter, and although not an official public holiday, most Swedes do not work on this day.

Whit Sunday and Whit Monday: these days are church holidays and therefore also a holiday for most Swedes; however, the religious importance of the day is not significant for most people, with Sweden nowadays being a secular country.

National Day: held on 6 June, this is not a public holiday, but it is a significant day for events promoting Swedish unity and culture.

Midsommar: held at the end of June, the longest day of the year is celebrated with festivities. The eve of this holiday is more significant for most people than the actual day itself, with it being a popular time to party. Day events are typically Swedish, with maypoles decorated with flowers being the focus of dancers.

Crayfish Parties: known as Kräftskivor in Swedish, The whole month of August sees Swedes celebrate the crayfish and the Baltic herring. Considered delicacies in Sweden, this is the time to sample various fishy delights. Many Swedes decorate their balconies with lantern during August and host parties serving these two treats.

All Saint's Day: known as Alla Helgons Dag in Swedish, this day is celebrated at the end of October. This is a shortened working day for most people and a time for school vacations.

Christmas: the primary event of the year, Swedes starts celebrations four Sundays before Christmas Day, with the highlights being Christmas Day itself (Juldagen). Expect decorated trees, illuminated buildings and carol singers.

New Year's Day – 1 January
Epiphany (Trettondedag Jul) – 6 January
Good Friday - the Friday before Easter
Easter Monday – date varies
Labour Day – 1 May
Ascension Day - 39 days after Easter
Whit Sunday (Pingst) – date varies
Whit Monday (Annandag Pingst) – date varies
National Day (Sveriges Nationaldag) – 6 June
Midsummer Day (Midsommardagen) – date varies
Halloween (Alla Helgons Dag) – 31 October
Christmas Day (Juldagen) – 25 December
Boxing Day (Annandag Jul) – 26 December