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Constitution Day,
Norway
by Kat Borgen Werbel a
Norwegian in California
May 17
Norwegians celebrate their parallel to
4th of July on May 17th, remembering the 1814 constitution and following
liberation from 400 years under Danish rule.
Two of Norway's most known
and loved poets, Henrik Wergeland and later Bjrnstjerne Bjrnson, worked with
making this a national celebration, with emphasis on the children. During the
German occupation under WWII the celebration was banned, but was even more so a
very important day for the feeling of national fellowship.
Nowadays the
holiday is a countrywide party, where a population emerging from a long cold
winter celebrates freedom and the oncoming summer, many in intricate national
costumes. And the children are still the main emphasis; open parties with games
and music, where hot dogs and impressive amounts of ice cream is consumed, takes
places at schools and community centers after the Children's Parade.
The
Children's Parade is the day's main attraction, every school in the country have
parades with marching bands and children singing and waving flags. In Oslo, the
capitol city, the long parade ends in front of the Royal Palace, where the
children greet the Royal Family, who welcomes them from the balcony.
The
day is also celebrated worldwide, at Norwegian embassies and seamen's
churches.
More about the day:
NorwayDirect.co.uk
Odin.dep.no
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