By MalenaTuesday March 11 2008

The Swedish national symbol is called “Three Crowns” (Swedish: Tre Kronor) and composed by three yellow or gilded crowns ordered two above and one below, placed on a blue background.

It is a symbol of the Swedish government and used by Swedish embassies around the world. But it is also used less formal. Example: the Swedish national ice hockey team, who wear the symbol on their shirts and hence are called "Three Crowns“.

Selma Lagerlöf, a Nobel-prize (1909) winner writer. On the back a motive From one of her books,“Nils Holgerson” on the back of the goose Akka

Jenny Lind, 1820–87, also called “the swedish nightingale”, a worldfamous soprano singer.

King Carl XI, 1655–97, swedish king 1660–97.

King Gustav Vasa (1496-1560) founded the Swedish hereditary monarchy and united the loosely connected Sweden of the 1400-hundreds into a state with a central government.

Carl von Linné (1707-1778) created “System Nature”,the system for the classification of plants and animals into different species and families that still is the basis for natural sciences research.

The capital Stockholm is a city full of water. Located on several islands and by a spectacular archipelago. You can fish and swim in clean water right in the middle of the city.

The King’s castle

In Sweden there is 9 million people.

In the capital Stockholm there is 1,5 million people.

means Merry Christmas in Swedish. means Merry Christmas in Swedish. means Merry Christmas in Swedish. means Merry Christmas in Swedish.

 The Christmas season is a long one in Sweden and these are some of the traditions:

The Advent Candles - On the first Sunday in Advent, the first candle is lit, on the second Sunday two candles are lit ... and so on.

Jul kalender. For many years Swedish TV and radio have featured an “advent calendar” with different themes - it becomes a must for most families at around 6 p.m. every evening from December 1 until Christmas eve.

Everybody gives eachother gifts on Christmas eve 24 December. Tomten (Father Christmas) visits and asks if there are any good children he can give gifts to!

It is traditional to dance around the Christmas tree singing songs.

Glögg (mulled wine) is the main drink of Christmas

Merry Christmas!

A thousand years ago there were Vikings in Sweden. They had a special alphabet - Runics

Five hundred years ago, after many wars, Sweden was a big country. Finland, Baltics, Germany, Poland and parts of Russia and Denmark were in Swedish control and ruled by the King.

Today Sweden is a small country and have had peace for 200 years.