As nice as it is to take part in Swedish traditions and celebrations, when living abroad it can also feel important to celebrate the holidays of your homeland. We have put together a list of Swedish and international celebrations... here is Göteborg Daily's expat calendar for 2012!
The calendar will be updated continuously throughout the year. Once we learn of a new celebration we will add it to the list, as well as information about how/if the holiday is celebrated in Gothenburg. Please contact us if you know of any public celebrations in Gothenburg, formal or informal, that we should add to the list.
JANUARY6/1: Epiphany (Three Kings' Day)
7/1: Orthodox Christmas
22/1: Chinese New Year celebrations
Casino Cosmopol - a big Chinese buffet, Peking Opera, acrobatics and lots of colour. The Casino Cosmopol puts on one of Gothenburg's largest celebrations for the Chinese New Year. It starts at 19:30 and will cost 195 kr for non-members.
Röhsska Museum - discover which Chinese animal sign you belong to and make your own dragon lampshade. Röhsska is celebrating Chinese New Year with workshops and talks. You can even learn how to make, as well as taste, authentic northern Chinese dumplings. The event is free of charge and will be open from 12:00-16:00.
26/1: Australia Day
Dancing Dingo - Gothenburg's Australian pub at Kristinelundsgatan always celebrates Australia Day. According to their Facebook page there will be: Dance DJ + free entry. Special offers on beers and drinks. Open 17:00-02:00.
26/1: Indian Republic Day
FEBRUARY6/2: New Zealand Day
4/2: Orthodox New Year celebrations
Casino Cosmopol -BAlkAN pARtY
Party in connection to the Orthodox New Year. Buffet and live music with the popular Gothenburg band Andra Generationen. From 18:00-20:00. 295 kr for non-members.
14/2: St. Valentine's Day
21/2: Fettisdagen - Shrove Tuesday
Eat as many semlor as you can.
MARCH8/3: International Women's Day
Nefertiti. Ladyfest and Amnesty International join forces to celebrate women all over the world who fight for equality, democracy and human rights.
Power choir with Slynkören, queer rock with Frida Selander and performance by the tap-dancing, electric organ playing multi-artist Emma Augustsson. Compère: Madame Grenouille. Live DJs: Elin Grelsson and Soraya Hashim.
When: 19:00 till late
Price: 100 kronor
Röhsska Museet. Focus on female designers. Guided tours, workshops and a special program by the performance group 11vorna. From 16:00-17:00 it will be possible to try the popular dance Femelle from New York. Free entry.
Barnvagnsmarschen - the Stroller march. Protest against maternal mortality around the world. 1,000 women die every day because they don't have access to maternal healthcare and the opportunity to make a safe abortion. The protest starts at Bältesspännareparken 12:00.
8 marskommittén i Göteborg - the 8th of March Committee in Gothenburg.Gather at Gustav Adolfs torg at 17:30.Göteborgs Feministiska kör (choir), Fanny Edstam from Revolutionär Kommunistisk Ungdom, Susan Saberi from Iranska Flyktingars Riksförbund and Julia Bahner from Feministiskt Perspektiv are some of the participants.
8/3: Holi Festival - Hindu Spring festival
IndiaPoint is organising a flashmob in Nordstan near the Tourist Information Center. The flashmob will take place twice: at 14:30 and 15:30.
13/3: Nowruz- Persian New Year celebrations
Götaplatsen - Fire party with food, music and dance performances, 17:00-22:00.
17/3: St. Paddy's Day
Gothenburg's Irish folk, and not so Irish folk, will be celebrating Irish culture on March 17. Why not join them?
Popular places to celebrate include
The Dubliner pubs at Järntorget and Östra Hamngatan and
The Flying Barrel at Kristinelundsgatan.
20/3: Nowruz - Persian New Year celebrations
Casino Cosmopol - Hafsin - buffet with traditional Persian New Year dishes and desserts. DJ and live music with Rangarang. Price: 295 kr for non-members (includes entrée, welcome drink and the buffet). Limited number of places.
Nordstan - music, dancing, and seminars with Reza Talebi (10:15, 13:30). All day from 10:00.
25/3: Våffeldagen - Waffle day (Sweden)
Eat as many waffles as possible.
28/3: Earth Hour International
Turn your lights off for an hour at 8 pm.
APRIL1/4: April's Fools Day
6/4-9/4: Easter
Give candy to witches...
25/4: Anzac Day
A ceremony will be held at the
Kviberg cemetery at 11:00 am. A reception is held directly afterwards at Palmhuset, Trädgårdsföreningen.
The Mirrabooka Club (Australians in Gothenburg) will also organise a get-together and dinner at the Brasserie Lipp on the Avenue. The Australian and New Zealand ambassadors plus their wives/partners will attend the dinner. As food will be pre-ordered you need to contact the
Mirrabooka Club and tell them if you will be attending.
30/4: Koninginnedag (Queen's Day - Netherlands)
30/4: Walpurgisnacht (Witches Night - Germany)
30/4: Valborgsmässoafton - Swedish Walpurgis Night / Valborg celebrations
The annual Chalmers Cortege - huge street parade from Chalmers through the city centre.
Trädgårdsföreningen - Celebrated with a choir, student orchestra and speeches, 14:00-18:00.
Slottsskogen - On the lawn in front Björngårdsvillan there will be celebrations including activities for children and singing from 17:30-23:00. The bonfire will be lit at 21:00.
Härlanda tjärn (Örgryte-Härlanda) - From 17:00 there will be traditional celebrations for the whole family. The bonfire will be lit at 20:00.
Kättilsröd 4H-gård (Hisingen) - Pony rides and other activites for children, 17:00-20:00. Bonfire from 19:00.
Back Västergårds föräldrakooperativ (Hisingen) - Celebrations for the whole family, 17:00-20:00. Bonfire will be lit at 19:00.
Galaxen (East Gothenburg) - Horse and wagon rides, pony rides and singing, 18:00-21:00. Bonfire from 19:00.
MAY1/5: Labour Day and May Day
Political manifestations and speeches in the city centre.
8/5: Liberation Day - France
8/5: World Red Cross Day
17/5: Syttende Mai - Norway's National Day
Clarion Hotel Post opens its outdoor serving area at 13:00. The hotel’s owner, Norwegian Petter A. Stordalen is expected to be among the guests.
Norge’s Hus hosts a brunch, the flag will be raised and there will be family entertainment.
25/5: Africa Day
JUNE6/6: Sweden's National Day
Celebrations and concerts in
Slottsskogen.
15/6: Denmark's National Day
20/6: World Refugee Day
22/6: Swedish Midsummer's Eve
Public celebrations in for example
Slottsskogen,
Nääs slott and
Gunnebo slott. More info will come closer to the date.
JULY1/7: Canada Day
Usually celebrations in Gothenburg, we will update closer to the date.
4/7: Independence Day - United States of America
Usually celebrations in Gothenburg, we will update closer to the date.
14/7: Bastille Day - France's National Day
The rest of the year will be updated shortly!
