Saturday, May 18

Syttende Mai er vi så glad i

Norwegian Constitution Day is the national day of Norway and is an official public holiday observed on May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai (lit. "seventeenth May")

 The Constitution of Norway was signed at Eidsvoll on May 17 in the year 1814. The constitution declared Norway to be an independent kingdom in an attempt to avoid being ceded to Sweden after Denmark–Norway's devastating defeat in the Napoleonic Wars.
After 1864 the day became more established when the first children's parade was launched in Christiania, at first consisting only of boys. It was only in 1899 that girls were allowed to join in the parade for the first time.
Today we celebrate "syttende mai with breakfast consisting of Norwegian food, dress up in national costumes, participate in the children parade, eat ice cream and sausages during the day and have great times with friends.
This year the gods gave us beautiful warm weather almost all over the country.
Here you se Tullen and myself dressed in our national costumes. Both originating from my home district NorthWest of Norway; Sunmøre.
The royal guard is approaching the royal castle after their impressive drill in front of the old university. That is the only military apparence during the day. In Norway the day is dedicated to school children.
Our national flag and "bunader" are all over the city, and in the parade the different schools are waiving their banner.
Two of our grandchildren Mari and Maja are playing in their school brass band, and thus carrying the bans´s uniform in the parade.
A third grandchild living in England, Hedda, is also celebrating 17.mai with her flag on the way to school.

This year even the ice cream were covered with national cotumes. ( sorry about the comercial display of one brand )

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