The Norwegian Constitution was adopted on the 17th of May 1814, and is each year celebrated in many Norwegian communities throughout the world. Several Norwegian seamen's churches, embassies, student associations and other Norwegian institutions organise processions similar to those held in Norway.
The Norwegian Embassy in Ankara will not host a reception this year, but the Embassy will be represented and hold speeches at the celebrations in Kemer, Alanya and Istanbul. Ambassador Cecilie Landsverk will celebrate the day with the Norwegian community in Kemer.
Norwegians abroad dressed in Bunads, the national costume. Photo: Audny Hegstad Diamantis
Focus on Children and Youth
The National Day celebrations vary from place to place, but it usually follows a traditional pattern. There are for instance always children's parades, made up of school classes marching through the local community. Most of the children carry small Norwegian flags and the route is lined with an enthusiastic audience.
With the exception of the King’s guard’s participation, the celebration is of non-militaristic nature.
A multicultural celebration
Over time, the Norwegian National Day has turned into a celebration of the multicultural, as well as of what is traditional Norwegian. This is something the organisers are aware of. – The key to a successful 17th of May arrangement is to create a celebration that everyone can identify themselves with, regardless of their background, says Khamshajiny Gunaratnam.
The 22 year old politician from the Norwegian Labour Party has both a Norwegian and Tamilian background. This year she is a member of the committee responsible for the National Day in the Norwegian capital Oslo.
Gunaratnam has no problems having multiple cultural bonds on such a day.
– 17th of May is that one day of the year we all have in common. It is the country's National Day and it is not for some exclusive groups, but for everyone who lives here. The country that we celebrate is a multicultural country with people from all over the world, an inclusive society for everyone. I believe that most children attending the parade at the main street in Oslo feel like belonging to the major Norwegian multicultural community, rather than belonging to this or that group.
Historical context
In 1814, the year the Constitution was born, the Napoleonic Wars was heading towards an end. Denmark, who fought alongside Napoleon, signed a peace treaty with Sweden. But in order to reach an agreement, Denmark handed Norway to Sweden. Norway and Sweden formed a union with a Swedish king and government.
In the forming of the union with Sweden, Norway got their own constitution. It was ratified on the 17th of May, the day Norwegian’s today celebrate as their National Day.
Bunad – the national costume
There are many traditions related to the 17th May. One of the most distinctive is the national costume. The bunad is the traditional Norwegian folk costume, and it is the result both of cultural evolution and organized efforts to discover and modernize older designs.
There are bunads both for men and women, although women's bunads are more diverse and popular. The people that don’t wear a bunad on the National Day, usually wear a suit or a summer dress. It is common to have a Norwegian flag or 17th of May-ribbon pinned to the lapel.
A Kransekake should be decorated with Norwegian flags.
Food traditions
May is the month when spring blooms in Norway, and this influences the menu chosen for the day. The children’s favorite is hot dogs and ice cream. For many Norwegians, this is the one day of the year where the consuming of ice cream and hot dogs is limitless.
The grownups often stick to cured meats, sausages, traditional sour cream porridge. It is common to throw barbeques, and desserts and cakes are a must. The most typical cake might be the kransekake, which is formed as a cone and made of a series of concentric rings of cake, layered on top of each other.
It is also a tradition to organize breakfast parties before the parade starts.
The graduates from high school dress up in red overalles during their final weeks.
The "russ" celebration – ending 13 years of school
The 17th of May is also a special day for Norwegian eighteen- and nineteen year olds. After graduating from Norwegian high school the pupils become “russ”. The celebration of “russ” lasts for approximately twenty days, and ends with a special parade on the 17th of May.
The russ are easily recognized by their distinctive overalls, usually in red. Tradition dictates that they wear the overall and the cap from the 1st to the 17th of May without interruption, without washing any of them.