17th of May – Norway’s National day/Constitution day

We are celebrating the date the Norwegian constitution was signed at Eidsvoll in 1814, and this constitution represented an independent Norway. Before this day Norway had been in union in over 400 years with Denmark but in 1812 Denmark (in alliance with Napoleon) “lost” Norway to Sweden in a war against Great Britain. Even though Norway now was in a union with Sweden they declared independence and elected a new king. There were great disparities between the two countries, but at last, in 1905, Sweden and Norway separated.

The celebration is not very militant like in many other countries, but is rather seen as the children’s day, because they dress up and get to walk in the parades with their school and classmates, wave their flags and sing songs like Norge i rødt, hvitt og blått (Norway in red, white and blue) and the national anthem Ja, vi elsker dette landet (Yes, we love this country). There are also school bands walking and playing music in the parades. In Oslo the parade walk by the castle where the King and his family are waving from the balcony. Many people travel to Oslo to watch the parade, but it is also broadcast on TV (NRK1). Usually every village or commune arrange their own parade too (Also in Ås).

Another Norwegian phenomenon is russ. This is the graduating class of high-school, and they celebrate their graduation for about a month (in May) by wearing characteristic red or blue pants and having a lot of parties. 17th of May is their last day as a russ, and then the exams kick in.

People dress up on this day, often in the traditional outfit bunad, or samekofte. The latter is the traditional outfit for the indigenous people of Norway, Sami people (or Lapp). Red, white and blue clothes are also popular colours to dress up in.

After the parades are finished friends and family often gather and eat traditional Norwegian food (which will also be served by Noragric Student Association this day:-)
This might be open sandwiches with scrambled eggs and salmon, or salted meat like cured ham (Spekeskinke) and potato salad with some sour cream porridge (Rømmegrøt) beside.
Many kids (and some grown ups) eat hot dogs and ice cream.

For more info check out on Wikipedia

or visitnorway.com