Norwegian Constitution Day

The Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is also a national holiday. It is celebrated every year on May 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution at Eidsvoll, 1814. The day is referred to as Syttende mai (May Seventeenth).

In every town and village, the celebration includes school children parading in the local area while waving Norwegian flags. In Oslo, the parade, consisting of appx. 100 of the schools in the city, goes past the Royal Palace, where the Royal Family stands waving to the children. In the municipality of Asker, the same takes place past the residence of the Crown Prince. (In Asker, it happens earlier in the morning, so that the Crown Prince and Princess have time to be in both places.) The day also marks the last day the graduation students are russ. Bergen's parade differs somewhat from the parades in most other towns, in that it includes comic troups, various local organization, and the buekorps.

This is also a day for dressing up, and many Norwegians use the opportunity to wear the national costume, the bunad. This is a costume that has become ever more popular in recent years, and is a beautifullt crafted attire.

The Norwegian Constitution Day is one of the few, if not the only one, in the world where the children are at the center of celebrations. Most other countries have military parades, and have an emphasis on strength of arms. In Norway, the emphasis is on the strength and joy of the children. This is shown through the sheer number of people in the street, no matter what the weather is like. Marching bands can be heard all over the country, and hot-dogs and icecream are abundant for children to eat.

Syttende mai is often celebrated in Norwegian immigrant communities in North America with dinners of traditional foods, including lutefisk.

See also

• Constitution Day, a list of similar holidays in other countries