Eleanor Finch
On May 17, Norwegians around the world celebrate Constitution Day, honouring the signing of the country's constitution in 1814. The day is marked by parades, festivities, and food, with a focus on celebrating Norway's independence and national identity. It is a public holiday in Norway, and Norwegians are invited to join in the celebrations, with children taking a central role in the day's events.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17 May |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Type of celebration | Parades, music, food, children's activities, and speeches |
| Location | Norway and Norwegian communities worldwide |
| Dress code | Traditional folk costumes (bunad) or finest clothes |
| Food | Waffles, hot dogs, ice cream, cured meat, Rømmegrøt (sour cream porridge), smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, and beef patties |
| Drinks | Soda |
| History | Commemorates the signing of Norway's Constitution in 1814, which declared Norway an independent kingdom |
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What You'll Learn
The history of Constitution Day in Norway
Norway's Constitution Day, also known as Syttende Mai ("Seventeenth of May"), Nasjonaldagen ("National Day"), or Grunnlovsdagen ("Constitution Day"), is a national holiday celebrated on May 17 each year. The day marks the signing of Norway's constitution in 1814, which was a pivotal moment in the country's quest for independence.
Despite the adoption of the constitution, Norway entered into a union with Sweden shortly after in 1814. King Karl Johan of Sweden and Norway banned celebrations of the constitution from 1820 to 1829. However, students and others continued to celebrate the day, and in 1833, the first public speech to mark the occasion was delivered by the Norwegian poet Henrik Wergeland.
In 1870, the celebrations became more official with the first children's parade held in Christiania (later renamed Oslo). The author and poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who wrote the national anthem, "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" ("Yes, we love this country"), played a significant role in shaping the inclusive nature of the holiday, particularly emphasising the importance of children in the festivities.
During World War II, when Norway was occupied by Nazi Germany, all May 17 celebrations were forbidden. However, after liberation in 1945, the children's parades returned with renewed significance, becoming a powerful symbol of Norway's freedom and enduring spirit.
Today, Constitution Day is celebrated across Norway with parades, traditional costumes, music, and food. The day is also observed by Norwegian communities around the world, particularly in places like Seattle, Stoughton, Wisconsin, and Norway Day in Norsewood, New Zealand.
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How Norwegians celebrate Constitution Day
Constitution Day is a huge deal in Norway. Celebrated on the 17th of May each year, the day is a public holiday and is marked by parades, traditional costumes, and lots of ice cream. The day is also celebrated by Norwegians around the world, with festivities taking place in the US and beyond.
The day begins with a big breakfast, often a potluck with friends, family, and neighbours, featuring freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and other treats.
The main attraction of the day is the children's parades that take place across the country. These parades are made up of marching bands, children, and an abundance of Norwegian flags. The biggest parade takes place in Oslo, where pupils from over 120 schools parade past the Royal Palace, waving to the royal family. The high street in Oslo, Karl Johan, is filled with people watching the parade. There are also parades in other towns, including Trondheim and Bergen, which has its own unique traditions, including the Buekorps, or marching archer brigades.
The graduating class from videregående (upper secondary school) has its own celebration, staying up all night and making the rounds through the community. They have their own parades later in the day, usually around 4 or 5 pm. In these parades, the students carry signs and pickets, parodying various local and political aspects.
The russ tradition is a unique aspect of Norwegian culture, where high school students celebrate finishing 13 years of school. They can be recognised by their red or blue overalls, covered in letters, badges, and patches. They drive around in custom-decorated buses and vans, playing loud music, and participate in pranks and dares.
The day is also a chance to wear the national costume, called bunad, which is a traditional folk costume worn by men and women. It is a way to showcase heritage and cultural identity.
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The significance of May 17th for Norwegians
The 17th of May is Norway's Constitution Day, an official public holiday, and the country's national day. It is a day of huge significance for Norwegians, with celebrations taking place across the country and beyond. The day is also celebrated by Norwegian communities around the world, particularly in the United States, where towns with strong Norwegian heritage, such as Stoughton, Wisconsin, mark the occasion with parades and festivities.
The date commemorates the signing of Norway's constitution in 1814. This was a pivotal moment in Norway's history, as it established the country as an independent kingdom, with a system of government that included separate branches for executive, legislative, and judicial powers. The constitution also enshrined civil liberties and human rights, reflecting the liberal political ideals of the time. The document is considered one of the most progressive constitutions of its era.
The day is an opportunity for Norwegians to express their national identity and pride. It is marked by colourful parades, music, and traditional costumes. The children's parades are a notable feature, with students from schools across the country marching past the Royal Palace in Oslo, where they exchange waves and greetings with the royal family. The day is also celebrated by "russ", or graduating high school students, who wear red or blue overalls and decorate buses and vans with loud music.
The Norwegian flag is a prominent symbol during the celebrations, representing freedom and resilience. The day is often referred to as "Syttende mai", "Nasjonaldagen", or "Grunnlovsdagen", and it is an occasion for Norwegians to come together and share a large breakfast with friends, family, and neighbours. Traditional foods include freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, cured meat, and, of course, lots of ice cream!
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The role of children in Constitution Day celebrations
Children play a central role in Norway's Constitution Day celebrations. The day is even credited with being a celebratory day for children, rather than a day of patriotic pride, by the poet Henrik Wergeland.
The day is marked with children's parades across the country, with the longest parade taking place in Oslo, where about 100,000 people pack the city centre. The parade includes pupils from over 120 schools and passes the Royal Palace, where the royal family waves to the crowds from the balcony. The parade is broadcast on national television. In Trondheim, children from all the city's schools parade the streets in the morning, and in Bergen, there is also a children's parade. Each elementary school district arranges its own parade with marching bands between schools. The parades often make stops at the homes of senior citizens and war memorials.
Children are allowed as many ice creams as they want on Constitution Day, and there are also playground games, and other sweets and treats. The graduating class from upper secondary school, known as "russ", has its own celebration, staying up all night and making the rounds through the community. They also have their own parades later in the day, with teens in hand-decorated buses and vans blaring loud music.
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Constitution Day celebrations outside of Norway
Norway's Constitution Day, celebrated on the 17th of May each year, is also observed in several places outside of Norway.
United States
In the United States, members of Norway's Parliament Storting travel to Chicago to attend a three-day celebration consisting of a concert, banquet, and parade hosted by the Norwegian National League. Spring Grove, Minnesota, also hosts a three-day festival on the weekend closest to Syttende Mai. Decorah, Iowa, the home of Nordic Fest and the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, also holds a parade. Syttende Mai is additionally celebrated in Oswego, New York. Westby, Wisconsin, has been celebrating a four-day festival since 1969, featuring authentic Norwegian foods, crafts, a "frokost", and a Norwegian church service. Large celebrations are also held in Ballard, Seattle, which claims to have the largest Syttende Mai parade outside of Oslo; Poulsbo, Washington; and Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Epcot's Norwegian Pavilion in Florida celebrates with numerous flags and parades around the World Showcase Lagoon.
New Zealand
Norsewood in New Zealand celebrates Norway Day with a church service, folk dancing displays by schoolchildren, and Norwegian songs performed by the village choir. Fiordland, a small piece of Norway in the fjords and mountains of southwest New Zealand, also commemorates the day with expositions of photos and facts about Norway, typical food, and a presentation with Fjord Horses and Norwegian music.
Afghanistan
Soldiers in Meymaneh, Afghanistan, also celebrate Norway's Constitution Day.
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Frequently asked questions
Constitution Day is Norway's national day and an official public holiday. It is celebrated on May 17 every year.
Norway's Constitution Day celebrates the signing of Norway's constitution in 1814. The constitution declared Norway to be an independent kingdom, attempting to avoid being ceded to Sweden after Denmark-Norway's defeat in the Napoleonic Wars.
Constitution Day is celebrated with large parades, especially for children, as well as festivities, food, and traditional clothing. The day is also celebrated by Norwegians around the world.
Constitution Day is a significant day for Norwegians as it is a celebration of freedom, resilience, community, and national identity. It is also a day when Norwegians come together and proudly display their heritage and cultural identity.
