Du gamla, du fria

Common card · No. 313496

Du gamla, du fria (lit. 'You ancient, you free'), is the de facto national anthem of Sweden. Originally titled Sång till Norden (lit. 'Song to the Nordics'), its lyrics were written in 1844 by Swedish antiquarian Richard Dybeck, who set them to a variation of the old folk melody Kärestans död (lit. 'Death of a loved one'). The song has been widely recognised as the national anthem since the late 19th century, gaining prominence after King Oscar II, attending a dinner in 1893, stood in acknowledgement upon hearing the song. It gained further recognition in 1938, when Sveriges Radio, the national public broadcaster, began playing it at the conclusion of its daily programming. In 2000, the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) declined a proposal to officially recognise Du gamla, du fria as the national anthem, stating that its established status through tradition rendered formal adoption unnecessary. Dybeck's original lyrics consist of two verses, reflecting the ideals of Scandinavianism. It references...

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