THE CELEBRATION OF THE NORWEGIAN CONSTITUTION DAY

THE CHILDREN�S PARADE.

Different from most countries, which celebrate their Constitution with military parades, people in Norway have chosen to show their pride and hope for the future, the children.

All the schoolchildren in the whole country are parading in the morning of the 17th of May, with the Norwegian flag in their hands and colourful
banners, which represent their school or their class, in front.  It has been like this throughout all the years the parade has existed, except from during the Second World War when nationalistic activities were forbidden by the Germans.

The Children�s Parade

Every village and larger schools have their own band of musicians, which marches in front of the procession. And every child has a small flag in its hand.

In many villages they also go to church in the morning. The students who have finished high school are in the parade as well. Many people wear their National Costumes this day. Different parts of the country have their own costume.

The parade of the sixth formers.

This parade gives an impression of carnival celebration on the Constitution Day, and the sixth formers celebrate their exams.  In their red and blue (economic subjects) uniforms they leave their mark on the celebration.  In the parade there are elements from politics and from daily life. The value of entertainment can be discussed, but the joy of the sixth formers can not be discussed.

The Norwegian flag

From the seventeenth century and up until 1814, Norway and Denmark had a common flag, the Danish. In 1814, however, Norway joined a union with Sweden, and it was decided that Norway should use the Swedish flag, only with a white on red cross in the upper left hand corner. But the Norwegians, who had written their own constitution, also wanted a flag to call their own. Therefore, the flag being used today was introduced in 1821. It was designed by Fredrik Meltzer. His descendants lives in Stavanger today.

Bjornstjerne Bjornson

Bjornstjerne Bjornson was born in 1832 in Kvikne, in the eastern part of Norway. His father was a priest. He died in 1910. He was a famous author who wrote novels and short stories. He also wrote our national anthem. When he was 5 years old, he and his family moved to Nesset. When he was 11 he was forced to move from his home and go to school in Molde.

Bjorstjerne Bjornson received the Nobel Price in Literature in 1903. When he was studying in Oslo, he travelled to Stockholm for a study meeting in 1856.

OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM

Fond Devotions

Lyrics by B. Bjornson
Music by R. Nordraak

Yes, we love whith fond devotion
This our land that looms
Rugged storms- carried o`er the ocean,
With her thousand homes.
Love her, in our love recalling
Those who gave us birth.
And old tales which night, in falling,
Brings as dreams to earth.

Norseman, what�s oe`er thy station,
Thank thy God, Whose power
Willed and wrought the land`s salvation
In her darkest hour.
All our mothers sought with weeping
And our sirest in fight,
God has fashioned, in His keeping,
Till we gained our right

Yes, we love whith fond devotion
This our land that looms
Rugged storms- carred o`er the ocean,
With her thousand homes.
And, as warrior sires have made her
Welth and fame increase,
At the call we too will aid her,
armed to guard her peace.

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