Two national days of festivities are approaching, commemorating the tercentenary of the birth of Carl Linnaeus (known in his native Sweden as Carl von Linné). Thousands of guests from near and far are expected to visit Linnnaeus´s birthplace at Råshult, and Uppsala, where he lived and worked for fifty years. Scientists, Linnaeus devotees and flower children alike will be able to celebrate together with members of the Swedish royal family and the Japanese Emperor and Empress.
The birthday party will continue for more than a week in Linnaeus´s home province of Småland and in Uppsala north of Stockholm. Planning has been going on for several years. Now, with barely a month before the festivities get underway, guests have been invited and a packed programme has been prepared. Both in Råshult and Uppsala the public will be able to participate in and commemorate Sweden´s most famous scientist of all time. Linnaeus will be celebrated with a festival of 18th-century music, the premiere of the film Mr Flower Power, a postage stamp, an anniversary coin, a tulip festival, music, thousands of flower children, dance performances, a memorial ceremony in Uppsala Cathedral and a conferment of doctoral degrees at UppsalaUniversity. Thousands of guests have been invited from many different countries. The local authorities in Älmhult and Uppsala have put their heart and soul into hosting a gigantic birthday party! “I am grateful on behalf of all Swedes and not least on behalf of Carl Linnaeus himself, for the enormous interest engendered by the anniversary worldwide," says County Governor Anders Björck, chair of the national delegation. “A great deal of work has been put in at many places and I am impressed that in, for example, Råshult and Uppsala they have managed to compile such a magnificent festival programme for the tercentenary." Commemoration Day in Uppsala - May 23 Linnaeus´s birthday on May 23 begins with a solemn commemoration in Uppsala Cathedral, which was consecrated in 1435. Guests of honour are His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, Her Majesty Queen Silvia, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria and Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine, together with Emperor Akihito of Japan and Empress Michiko. A wreath will be laid on Linnaeus´s grave, specially composed music will be played by cathedral organist Olle Johansson, and Carl-Olof Jacobsson, who chairs the Swedish Linnaeus Society, will give a speech in memory of Linnaeus. The birthday festivities will continue with a traditional academic procession and ceremony in the university aula together with members of the royal family and other invited guests from a number countries. A specially commissioned major work for choir and orchestra will receive its first performance. The work has been composed by Jan Sandström, one of Sweden´s most sought-after and internationally best renowned composers. Music that was played at 18th-century doctoral degree ceremonies will also be performed. Science historian Tore Frängsmyr will deliver the principal speech. The festivities will culminate with a banquet at Uppsala Castle. The Japanese Emperor´s interest in science and in Linnaeus is well-known. In an article in the journal Science in 1992 he mentioned both Linnaeus and his pupil Carl Peter Thunberg. The Emperor´s interest in Linnaeus was demonstrated most recently during the Swedish state visit to Tokyo in March. In conjunction with that he visited the Linné 2007 exhibition at Japan´s National Science Museum, where he received the anniversary Linnaeus Medal. The fact that the Emperor is coming to Sweden so soon after this visit is considered to be unique. “I am incredibly proud that the Emperor of Japan, himself a scientist, is coming to participate in this, the greatest jubilee ever organised in Sweden for a scientist," says Anders Björck. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have previously visited Uppsala, in 1985 as Crown Prince and Crown Princess. On that occasion their escort was Professor Emeritus Carl-Olof Jacobsson, the chair of the Linnaeus Society. After their visit toSwedenthey will be travelling to the three Baltic states and to Great Britain. The Linnaeus Anniversary Week in Uppsala will begin on May 20 at Linneanum, the Botanical Gardens. Then follows a week-long series of activities in the streets and squares of the city. The climax will be the conferment of honorary doctorates on individuals selected to commemorate the memory of Linnaeus, at Uppsala University on May 26, among them Sir David Attenborough, Dame Jane Goodall and Kofi Annan. In Råshult and Uppsala, preparations are being made to receive large numbers of journalists eager to cover the anniversary. The Emperor and Empress are being accompanied by a Japanese press corps comprising almost 50 photographers and journalists. This week, members of the press can start to apply for accreditation to the national anniversary events on www.linne2007.se To receive the entire festival programme for the anniversary week in Uppsala, read more on www.uppsala.se and www.uu.se The Linnaeus District invites you to join the festivities The Post Office is publishing two new Linnaeus postage stamps engraved by Lars Sjööblom. The motifs are 18th century illustrations by G D Ehret of the banana plant and the mayapple. The originals are to be found on Linnaeus´s bedroom wall at Hammarby. Britt-Inger Hahne, head of Posten Frimärke (the Swedish Post Office´s Philatelic Service), is participating in the inaugural programme. The Post Office will be present throughout the weekend to frank stamps with specially created commemorative postmarks and to present its own book on Carl Linnaeus. Head of Media Relations |
