Norway’s National Day, or “Constitution Day” was celebrated in the Nordic kingdom on 17 May. The date marks the signing of the current Norwegian magna carta on 17 May 1814 at Eidsvoll, in an (failed) attempt to reassert its independence over annexations ambitions from Sweden.
Amongst Norwegians the fête is referred to simply as “syttende mai” (Seventeenth May).
Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway and the Crown Princely Family came out onto the balcony of the Royal Palace at Oslo just before 10:30 am as the Children’s Parade headed up Oslo’s main street, Karl Johan.
Schools celebrating major anniversaries led the Oslo children’s parade. This year children from St. Sunniva (150 years) marched at the front, followed by Ris (100 years) and Oslo Montessori (25 years).
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit and their family started the day at Skaugum Manor, where they greeted the Asker municipality children’s parade from 8:15 am.
About 60,000 children took part in the parade, and the Royal Guard Norwegian Military Marching Band brought up the rear.
Tradition
It was King Haakon VII (reigned 1905-1957) and Queen Maud who introduced the custom of greeting the children’s parade from the Palace’s balcony in 1906. The custom has been upheld ever since. The only exceptions were in 1910, when the Royal Family was in the UK for the funeral of Queen Maud’s father, King Edward VII, and during World War II from 1940 to 1944.
Today the terms “17 May” and children’s parade are virtually synonymous.
After the celebrations His Majesty The King of Norway embarked on a official visit to the US American states of Washington and Alaska from 21 to 27 May.
Source: http://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=127479&sek=27262
For more information
Norwegian Mission to the EU: www.eu-norway.org/mission/
Royal Norwegian Embassy to The Netherlands and Luxembourg: http://www.noorwegen.nl/Embassy/Consulates1/Luxembourg/#.VW2OOdLkdkg
Royal Norwegian Embassy to Belgium: www.norvege.be
