May 17, or "Søttende mai" is the Norwegian Constitution Day, where we celebrate our independence as a nation. This day marks the day our brand new constitution was adopted in 1814, after having been under Danish rule for 400 years.
The picture above was taken 30 years ago, on May 17, 1977. It shows my Mom and Dad, with my sister and I, our entire family before there were 11 of us... :) That's me on the right, playing with the flag and my trumpet noisemaker. I still remember those little white sweaters Grandma knitted for us - probably because they were worn for years to come by my younger sisters.
Søttende mai is a day to dress up in your brand new clothes and walk the streets watching children's parades and marching bands. It is a day for eating lots of ice cream and hot dogs, make lots of noise and patriotically wave your flag in the air, shouting ''Hurra for søttende mai!'' It is a day for being happy and enjoing the sunshine... or cold wind and rain, which frequently is the case in Norway this time of year. I sure do miss it.
The picture above was taken 30 years ago, on May 17, 1977. It shows my Mom and Dad, with my sister and I, our entire family before there were 11 of us... :) That's me on the right, playing with the flag and my trumpet noisemaker. I still remember those little white sweaters Grandma knitted for us - probably because they were worn for years to come by my younger sisters.
Søttende mai is a day to dress up in your brand new clothes and walk the streets watching children's parades and marching bands. It is a day for eating lots of ice cream and hot dogs, make lots of noise and patriotically wave your flag in the air, shouting ''Hurra for søttende mai!'' It is a day for being happy and enjoing the sunshine... or cold wind and rain, which frequently is the case in Norway this time of year. I sure do miss it.
10 comments:
Hey, I'm a quarter Norwegian - my grandmother's maiden name was Ruud, and they lived in Minnesota!
Hello, Michele sent me
That sounds like fun. Hurra for søttende mai!
No Fireworks??
Michele sent me,
Mike
Diane - nice to meet someone who hails from the fatherland... :)
Mike - the problem with fireworks in May in Norway is that it doesn't get dark enough to see them :) This is why only fireworks on New Year's Eve, hehe
What a darling picture!!! I had forgotten that your family is so big!!
wonderful photo! sorry the celebration is so far away - that's how i feel about 4th of july in the desert without fireworks (too dry, fire danger) and family (2500 miles away). hello from michele!
Happy "national" birthday
I am so glad you are back to blogging.
Hello again!
Well, Happy Norway Day to you, then! What a wonderful picture.
Michele sent me.
Vilken familjeidyll, vilken patriotism, vilka söta koftor! Tur för dig att du fick glädjen inviga din kofta - ibland har det nog sina fördelar att vara äldst!
The Norwegians living in Edinburgh always walk through the centre of town on that day, in full national dress and gather round a memorial stone in Princes Street Gardens.
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