Åland: political system
Åland is a self-governing Swedish-speaking archipelago that belongs to Finland. Åland has its own government and parliament. However, the head of state of Åland is the President of Finland.
National anthem
The hymn “Ålänningens sång” (Song of the Ålanders) has been Åland’s national anthem since 1922. The text is by John Grandell and the melody by Johan Fridolf Hagfors.
text
| In Swedish | In the English translation | |
| 1st stanzaLandet med tusende öar och skär,
danat ur havsvågors sköte. Åland, vårt Åland, vår hembygd det är. Dig går vår long till you want!Forngravars kummel i hängbjörkars skygd tälja din tusenårs saga. Aldrig förgäta vi fäderas bygd, vart vi i fjärrled än draga, vart vi i fjärrled än draga.2nd stanza Skönt är vårt Åland när fjärdar och sund blåna i vårljusa dagar, ljuvt är att vandra i skog och i lund, i stränderas blommande hagar.Midsommarstången mot aftonröd sky reses av villiga dealers, ytterst i utskärens fiskareby ungdomen vårdkasar tänder, ungdomen vårdkasar tänder.3rd verse Skönt är vårt Åland när vågsvallet yr högt mot de mäktiga stupen, när under stjärnhimlen kyrkfolket styr, över de islagda djupen.Ryter än stormen i stugornas ro distaff sjunger sin visa, minnet av barndomens hägnande bo sönerna lyckligast prisa, sönerna lyckligast prisa.4th stanza Aldrig har åländska kvinnor och men svikit sin stam och des era; ofärd oss hotat, men segervisst än frihetens arvsrätt vi bära.Högt skall det klinga, vårt svenska språk, tala med manande stämma, lysa vår väg som en flammande båk, visa var vi aro hemma, visa var vi aro hemma. |
1st stanzaThe land of a thousand islands and skerries,
Born deep under the waves Åland, our Åland, it is our home. We long for youOld graves under the birches Telling of our millennial history We will never forget the land of our fathers No matter where we go No matter where we go2nd verse Our Åland is lovely when bays and straits turn blue in the bright days of spring It is wonderful to walk in the woods and groves In the flowering fields of our coasts.Midsummer days until evening red sky Is lit by willing raised hands In the fishing villages on the archipelago the furthest light up Beacons are lit by the young Beacons are lit by the young3rd verse Our Åland is lovely when the foam of the waves swirl against the mighty abyss When the church steers people under the stars In the icy depths of the seaEven when the storm roars, in the peace of the huts The song of the spinning wheel is sung The memory of loving childhood is happy praised by sons Happy praised by sons4. Verse Åland’s women and men have never neglected the honor of their tribe. War threatened us, but we still victoriously led the legacy of freedomIt has to sound loud, our Swedish language Spoken in an urgent voice. Illuminate our path like a sea mark of flames Show us where we belong Show us where we belong |
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National flag
In 1954, Åland received its own flag. The national flag has a blue background with a yellow cross in which there is another red cross.
This refers to the relationship with Sweden, which has a yellow cross on a blue background. According to Countryaah.com, the red cross on the yellow cross represents the old Swedish colors for Finland.
- Check top-mba-universities for public holidays, sports events, UNESCO world heritage sites and major places to visit in Aland.
Åland: Known people
Erik XIV. (1533-1577)
Erik XIV. Was King of Sweden from 1560 to 1568 and had been replaced as King by his half-brother Johann because of mental confusion and was imprisoned with his wife for a few months in Kastelholm Castle in autumn 1571. Gustav Erikson (1872-1947) The Finnish shipowner Gustav Erikson acquired today’s museum ship “Pommern” in 1923 and moved the ship to Mariehamn on Åland. He was born on October 24, 1872 in Hellestorp in the municipality of Lemland on Åland and died on August 15, 1947 in Mariehamn, the capital of the archipelago
Duke Jonann (1537-1592)
Johann was one of the sons of Gustav Vasa I and became Duke of Finland in 1556 and King of Sweden from 1568 until his death. He lived in Kastelholm Castle for some time in 1557, 1559 and 1561. He also imprisoned his half-brother King Erik XIV and his wife here for a few months in the fall of 1571.
Søren Norby (1470-1530)
Norby was the commander of the Danish fleet and the Gotland lieutenant. The Swedes, however, saw him as a privateer.
In 1507 he had conquered Kastelholm Castle.
His eventful life came to an end when he entered imperial service in 1529 and took part in the siege of Florence to reinstate the Medici. In the course of the siege he fell on March 12, 1530 outside Florence. Per Olson (1503-1567) Per Olson lived as a so-called accountant in Hermas, in today’s Hermas Museum courtyard. It was first mentioned in a tax book in 1537.
Gustav Vasa (1496-1560)
Gustav Vasa was King of Sweden from June 6, 1523 to 1560. In 1523 he finally liberated Sweden from the rule of the Danes and converted, among other things, Kastelholm Castle on Åland into a hunting lodge.
