Let’s celebrate!

It was Sweden’s National Day last week.

The Norwegians celebrate their day with parades and joy and noise on the streets and the Irish have beer and hats and shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day …

… while the Swedes aren’t quite sure what it is they are celebrating.

There is singing and dancing in traditional clothes.

Look! I spied this woman gearing up the day before and snapped this shot from a restaurant window.

There is the embracing of other cultures and traditions. We were lucky enough to see this dance group from Lithuania. Such pretty costumes and just look at the delightful expression on the face of the girl on the right! (No, not my right – your right!)

The flags in the breeze seem to be celebrating a new kind of ‘Swedishness’ – something that goes beyond being proud of your country to the opening up of attitudes towards others, to something that breathes tolerance and acceptance for all.

And I guess that is something worth celebrating – or, at least, striving for.

For more slices of life, please visit: My World!