2013 Scandinavian Holidays

Will there be any public holidays or large annual events in Scandinavia during the time you travel to Scandinavia? It can be a great time to enjoy the Scandinavian culture.  On the other hand it may mean business closures and closed banks, etc.  Here is a running list for 2013 for the Scandinavia's public holidays in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland. 

JANUARY

• Tuesday, January 1: New Year’s Day All of Scandinavia
• Tuesday, January 1: New Year’s day (Uudenvuodenpäivä) - Findland
• Sunday, January 6: (religious) Epiphany holiday - Findland/Sweden/Iceland
• Sunday, January 6: Epiphany  (Loppiainen) - Findland
• Sunday, January 13: Hilarymas (St Knut's Day) - Sweden

FEBRUARY

• Wednesday February 6: Sami National Day
• Thursday February 14: Valentine's Day in all of Scandinavia
• Mid/Late Feb: Finland Ice Marathon
• Mid/Late Feb: Lantern Festival - Helsinki, Finland
• Late Feb: Finlandia Ski Race - Finland

MARCH

• Sunday, 24 March: Palm Sunday -  Norway
• March 28 - April 1: Easter - Sweden
• Thursday, March 28: Maundy Thursday - Iceland, Sweden, Norway
• Friday, 29 March: Good Friday - (Pitkäperjantai) Findland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden
• Sunday, March 31 :Easter Sunday (Pääsiäispäivä) Findland, Swede, Norway 

APRIL

• Monday, April 1 :Easter Monday- Scandinavia (2. Pääsiäispäivä) Findland
• Thursday, April 25 : First Day of Summer-  Iceland
• Friday, April 26: General Prayer is on Day- Denmark
• Tuesday, April 30: Walpurgis Night - Sweden

MAY

• Wednesday, May 1: Labor Day/May Day in Scandinavia (Vappu, suomalaisen työn päivä) Findland
• Thursday, May 8th: Liberation Day - Norway
• Thursday, May 8th:  Ascension Eve - Norway
• Thursday May 09: Ascension Day- (Helatorstai) Findland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway
• Friday, May 14: Constitution Day - Denmark
• Friday, May 17: Independence Day (Constitution Day)Norway
• Sunday, May 19 : Pentecost - (Helluntaipäivä) Findland, Sweden, Norway
• Sunday, May 19: Whit Monday - Denmark
• Monday, May 20 : Whit Monday - Iceland
• Monday, May 20 : Pentecost -Norway
• Saturday, May 25: Ascension Day (religious) – Scandinavia

JUNE

• Mid June: Midnight Sun Marathon Tromso - Norway
• Wednesday, June 5: Independence Day (Constitution Day) in Denmark
• Thursday, June 6: Independence Day (National Flag Day) in Sweden
• June 17: National Independence Day in Iceland
• June 20-23: Midsummer's Eve (Solstice)
• Friday, June 21: Midsummer Eve (Juhannusaatto) Findland
• Saturday, June 22, 2013: Midsummer Day (Juhannuspäivä) Findland, Sweden

JULY

AUGUST

• Thursday, August 1: Trademen's Day - Iceland
• Monday, August 05: Commerce Day - Iceland

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

• Early Nov: All Saints' Day (businesses open)
• Friday, November 01: All Saints Day - (Pyhäinpäivä) Findland, Sweden
• Late Nov: Hanukkah/Chanukah

DECEMBER

• All Dec: Hanukkah/Chanukah
• Dec 6: Independence Day in Finland
• Independance Day Finland (Itsenäisyyspäivä) is on Friday, December 06, 2013 Findland
• Dec 13: Saint Lucia Day
• Tuesday Dec 24: Christmas Eve: (Jouluaatto) Findland, Iceland
• Wednesday, December 25, Christmas Day ( (Joulupäivä) Findland, 
• Wednesday, December 25, Christmas Day Sweden
• Wednesday, December 25, Christmas Day Denmark, Iceland, Norway
• Thursday, December 26, St. Stephen’s Day:  (Tapaninpäivä) Findland, Iceland,  Sweden, Norway
•  Thursday, December 26, Boxing Day(day of charitable giving): Iceland, Denmark,
• Tuesday, December 31: New Year's Eve: Scandinavia