Constitution Day in Norway

Figure 1, This map shows the location of Norway and the surrounding lands and bodies of water.  The picture came from http://odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/no.html

 

Abstract

  Constitution Day is a day that celebrates Norway 's independence from Denmark and Sweden . Constitution Day (also called Children's Day) is a fun filled day with parades, feasts, and other amusing activities. Visitors come into Norway to view the annual parade and to participate in the day's events. The national colors of red, white, and blue are seen everywhere you turn. Kids marching in the parades wave their miniature flags to their parents and grandparents who are smiling back and taking pictures of this memorable day. The signing of Norway 's constitution on May 17, 1814 had given Norway an opportunity to rule themselves and they will always remember this day.

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Figure 2: The Bunad is Norway's national costume.  The costume varies in appearance depending on your city location.  Picture from http://www.bergen-guide.com/341.htm

Figure 3:  This is a picture of a girl holding the national flag in the Oslo parade.  The parade in Oslo is Norway's biggest parade.  Picture from http://www.virtualtourist.com/vt/6f/a

Introduction

  Every country celebrates holidays, and Norway is no exception. Norway has many of the same annual holidays as the United Sates including Easter, New Years, and Christmas. These holidays are popular in Norway just like they are in the United States, but the most popular holiday is Constitution Day (Rolleiv Solholm 2002). Every year on May seventeenth, Norway celebrates its freedom from the Danish and the signing of their first constitution (Nytt fra Norge 1996). Freedom is arguably a person = s greatest right. Although Constitution Day is celebrated among both countries, there are a variety of similarities and differences in how each country celebrates the holiday. Constitution Day is recognized in every free country, but Norwegians put forth the extra effort in celebrating Constitution Day.

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Context of Norway]

  Norway is a country located in Northern Europe . Many boundaries surround Norway including the Arctic Ocean, North Sea, Barents Sea , Finland , Russia , and Sweden . With a location so close to the North Pole, it is no secret that vegetation is produced rarely. Temperature is not the whole reason why Norway has a lack of agriculture. Approximately two-thirds of the land is mountainous, which make crops nearly impossible to grow. Norway is a country full of natural resources. Petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals are the leading exports of the country. In fact, only two other countries export more oil than Norway (The World Factbook 2004). Norway 's climate and geographical boundaries provides the country with many resources.

  The Vikings were the first settlers of Norway (Nytt Fra Norge 1996). Norway was made up of multiple Viking colonies that were never truly united until 890 (Nytt Fra Norge 1996). The man who successfully united Norway was Harold Harfagre. Norway remained ruled by the Nordics for approximately three hundred years. Christianity spread during the Nordic rule through trade with Germany , England , and Denmark . Missionaries helped spread the word of Christianity. The European concept of monarchy was converted to Norway during the eleventh century. The country was in a peaceful state until the black plague hit and killed approximately a third of the population. Luckily the plague only lasted two years (Nytt Fra Norge 1996).

  The plague hit Norway hard. Denmark was quickly becoming the strongest economic, Nordic country, so the Norwegians signed a treaty with Denmark in 1450 to ensure Norwegian rule in the monarchy. The treaty did the opposite though. The Danish noblemen took Norwegian government jobs and Norway was taken over by Denmark. In 1813, Napolean lost many battles and wanted to claim Norway as a buffer so when Napolean finally lost, Norway was given to Sweden as spoils of war. Norway became an independent country on May 17, 1814. May 17 has become the Norwegian National Day. Norway was once again taken over by Sweden on October 10, 1814 and remained in a union with Sweden until 1905. 1905 is the year that Norway became free of Sweden 's union. Norway set up a constitutional monarchy and entered economic prosperity immediately. Although Norway was neutral in WWII, the Germans invaded and occupied the country until the end of the war (Nytt Fra Norge 1996). World War II ended and Norway had been in a peaceful state for sixty years.

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Origins of Constitution Day

  There are many names for Norway 's Constitution Day including Children's Day and Syttende Mai. The festival first started on May 17, 1814. This marked the signing of Norway 's constitution and the end of Norway 's union with Denmark (Barbara Hagen 2004 ). The parades remained political protests by the Norwegians because they were still being ruled by Sweden until 1905 (Barbro Blehr 1999). In 1905, Norway became independent of Sweden and May 17 became a national day to rejoice over their freedom (Barbara Hagen 2004). Syttende Mai is just the Norwegian spelling of May 17 and constitution day just means the day that Norway formed their own constitution. Constitutional Day allowed Norway to form their own government, which is currently a constitutional monarchy. The holiday is also called Children's Day because children are the main focal points of the holiday.

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Performance

  Syttende Mai starts off with fireworks at five o'clock in the morning (Barbara Hagen 2004). The parade in Oslo is the reason why Norway brings in so many visitors on the seventeenth of May. Most of the people participating in the parade range from elementary students to the graduating high school students. Children and graduating high school students celebrate this holiday in their own ways. Children marching in Oslo will be able to march underneath the ruling family's balcony and get to wave to their king (Barbara Hagen 2004). If you are not able to attend the Oslo parade, you can still walk by your Mayor in the local parade and get a warm greeting from him. Children march in front of a brass band and wave their smaller flags proudly to all the spectators who are waving back to the children. The soon to be graduates participate in a different method (Barbara Hagen 2004). The students drive through town wearing red gowns and hats (Barbara Hagen 2004). This symbolizes that there are only three more weeks of school (Barbara Hagen 2004). Their cars are decorated in flowers and branches.

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Artifact

  One noticeable artifact is the brass band instruments. Trumpets, tuba, and other brass instruments are played during the parade. You will see the marching bands proudly blasting their tunes. The marching bands lead the young children in the parade.

  Another key artifact is the costumes worn during the celebration. The Norwegians like to wear suits during Children's Day. Bunads are also worn if the certain Norwegian does not feel like wearing a heavy suit all day. Bunads are the national costumes of Norway (Margit Karkela 2003). There appearance ranges, depending on what city you are from.

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Interpretation

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Prognosis for Children's Day

  Children's Day will remain a popular holiday, because the holiday has been celebrated since the signing of the constitution. The fact that the holiday brings in thousands of visitors a year shows that Norway 's Constitution Day is becoming more popular. The parades are a reason why visitors coming pouring into Norway on the seventeenth of May. Spectators love watching the brass marching band. Parades will always draw in crowds, no matter where you are at. Children's Day is slowly reaching American soil. Last year over eight hundred thousand Norwegian-Americans celebrated Children's Day in the United States (Marianne Jawanda 2003). This will bring more attention to the holiday and further increase the popularity in the United States .

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Conclusion

  Of course the holiday is nicknamed Children's Day, but that does not mean that the rest of the family is not having fun. Teenagers get to drive around and show off their decorated automobiles. Adults can sit back and relax or compete in rowing competitions. Holidays are geared towards having fun and Children's Day does just that. Norway knows that freedom is not felt by every citizen of the world and the country is thankful for their independence.

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Internet References Cited

• Jawanda, Marianne.  2003. A Tradition Full of Life. Electronic document, http://www.norway-times.com_21.html. September 19, 2004.

• Karkela, Margit. May 17, 2003 Oslo , Norway . Electronic document,    http://www.rotary5950.org/gse_2003/day_26.stm . September 19, 2004.

• Lourrie, Leah.  Anderson 's Imagined Communites. Electronic document,    http://www.ecsu.ctstateu.edu/personal/faculty/mcneilk/student_response_imagine d_com.htm

• Mykland, Professor Knutt.  The Norwegian Constitution Day. Electronic document, http://www.bergen-guide.com/341.htm. September, 20, 2004.

• ODIN.  The History of Norway . Electronic document,                http://odin.dep.no/odin/engelsk/norway/history/032005-990454/dok-bn.html. September 20, 2004.

• Solholm, Rolleiv.  May 18, 2002. May 17 th – Norway 's Constitution Day. Electronic document, http://www.norwaypost.no/content.asp?folderid=1&clusterid=19641 . September 19, 2004.

• The World Factbook.  September 14, 2004 Norway . Electronic document,    http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/no.html . September 20, 2004.

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Peer-Reviewed References Cited

• Blehr, Barbro.  Spring 1999.  Sacred Unity, Sacred Similarity: Norwegian Constitution Day Parades.   “Parades in Norway ,” Ethnology 38(2):175-190.

• Brown, Stephen.  1939.  The Catholic World. The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle. 166-172

• Hagen, Barbara.  March 2004.  The Children's Parade. “Parades,” Faces 20(7):26-28.

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