ISLAMABAD: Editor’s Desk -On the 17th of May, Norway celebrates the signing of the constitution in 1814. In Norway, Constitution Day is huge. While many countries celebrate their national day with a military parade, Norway’s 17th of May is a party for everyone, especially children. Before heading out to the parades and festivities, many like to get together to share a huge breakfast – often a pot luck with friends, family, and neighbours – with freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and (for the grown-ups) some bubbly.
Children’s parades then take place across the country, as marching bands lead processions through local communities. The biggest parades attract tens of thousands of people, who wave flags and shouting “hooray”! In Oslo, Karl Johan, the high street, is filled with happy people watching the big parade. The royal family wave tirelessly to the crowds passing from the balcony of the Royal Palace.
The day is celebrated all over the country. A unique feature in Bergen is the city’s traditional Buekorps – traditional neighbourhood groups of marching drummers.
Although the day is patriotic, it has a very inclusive and joyous atmosphere – visitors are welcomed warmly! The focus is mostly on eating huge amounts of ice cream and hot dogs, listening to speeches and music, and playing games at local schools.
The Norwegian constitution was passed unanimously by the Eidsvoll Assembly on 16 May 1814 and signed the next day.
Students and others soon began celebrating the milestone. However, since Norway was in a union with Sweden at the time, King Karl Johan of Sweden and Norway banned the festivities from 1820 until 1829.
The first public speech to mark the day was delivered in 1833 by Norwegian poet Henrik Wergeland. Since then, the 17th of May has been celebrated as Norway’s national day.
In 1870, the celebrations became more official when the first children’s parade was held in Christiania (later renamed Oslo). Author Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who also wrote the national anthem, “Ja, vi elsker dette landet”, was the driving force behind the parade.
All over Norway, children’s parades are a key part of the celebrations, with marching bands, and an abundance of flags.
The longest parade is in Oslo, where about 100,000 people pack the city centre. The parade includes some 100 schools and passes the Royal Palace, where the royal family waves to the crowds from the balcony. The parade is broadcast on national television.
