City Hall, Stockholm

Each year, on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s Death, Nobel prizes are presented to those outstanding people who contribute and influence much to our world in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine and Literature.

At the Prize Award Ceremony in Stockholm Concert Hall, presentation speeches praise highly of the Laureates and their discovery or work, after which His Majesty the King of Sweden hands each Laureate a diploma and a medal.

The Prize Award Ceremony is followed by a banquet at the Stockholm City Hall (Stockholms Stadshus) for about 1,300 people, including 250 students. The reddish bricked building in the top photo is the City Hall at Stockholm, Sweden. With a few exceptions, the Nobel Banquet has taken place at the City Hall since 1930. The Nobel Festivities in Stockholm are arranged by the Nobel Foundation and are primarily academic celebrations focusing on science and literature. In addition to the Nobel Laureates and their families, the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family of Sweden are guests of honour at both the Prize Award Ceremony and the Banquet. Representatives of the Swedish Government and Parliament also take part.

International guests enjoy priority, especially those who represent the sciences and cultural life. Swedish guests at the banquet are people who participate in Nobel-related functions in one capacity or another, aid the sciences through donations or otherwise support the Foundation and the Prize Awarding Institutions.

The second photo is the plaque at the entrance of the City Hall showing the face of Alfred Nobel and the people below symbolize the Laureates who should be praised.

The third photo shows the marble staircase leading down to the hall which the Banquet is held.

The bottom right photo shows the cutlery at each dining table. Visitors or tourists may taste the same kind of food served at the Banquet at different times of the year.