The Welsh have St David’s Day, the Irish St Patrick’s Day. And the Norwegians? Well, we have syttende mai, 17th May, when we commemorate the signing of our constitution in 1814. Norway had been ruled by Denmark for four centuries, but had just suffered a devastating defeat in the Napoleonic Wars and was to be transferred from Denmark to Sweden as a penalty. The constitution declared Norway an independent kingdom – a goal that was not reached until 1905, when the union was Sweden was finally dissolved.
17th May is huge. Whilst many countries celebrate their national day with a military parade, Norway holds a party for everyone, especially children, with marching bands, parades, national costumes and ice cream. Lots of ice cream. Before they head out onto the streets, many people will have a “17th May breakfast” – often a bring-a-dish party with friends and neighbours – with freshly-baked bread, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and champagne.
Children then parade through the streets, led by marching bands, waving flags and shouting “hurra!”. The largest parades attract tens of thousands of people. In Oslo, the procession is greeted by the royal family.
Ice cream and hot dogs are eaten while games are played. Speeches are made during the afternoon. The festivities are often rounded off in the evening with a special meal with friends and family.
Inevitably, our celebrations in Wales, taking place hundreds of miles from Norway, are somewhat muted, but we try to include as many of the familiar elements as we can – from the parade to the party food, the music to the speeches.
Thank you for joining us to celebrate 17th May this year!
Programme for the Day
16.45 Procession sets out from the Wales Millennium Centre, Roald Dahls Plass, Cardiff
17.00 Gathering at the Norwegian Church to raise the flag and sing the Norwegian national anthem
Welcome by Martin Price, Chair, Norwegian Church Cardiff Bay
17.15 Move inside the church for a traditional 17th May programme led by Torill Heavens
Addresses from Cato Syversen, CEO, Creditsafe; Councillor Graham Hinchey, the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of Cardiff; and a representative of Vestland County, Norway
Poem read by Eira Oseng-Rees
Wreath laid by Ingrid Ims from the Norwegian Church in London.
17:45 End of official programme. The café will remain open for the sale of refreshments and Norwegian food items
We would like to thank the Salvation Army Band for making our celebration a true Norwegian experience by learning our national anthem and joining us come rain or shine.
Ja, vi elsker
The Norwegian National Anthem
Words by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
| Ja, vi elsker dette landet Som det stiger frem Furet, værbitt over vannet, Med de tusen hjem Elsker, elsker det og tenker På vår far og mor Og den saga natt som senker drømme på vår jord | Yes, we love with fond devotion This our land that looms Rugged, storm-scarred 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. |
| Norske mann i hus og hytte, Takk din store gud. Landet ville han beskytte, Skjønt det mørkt så ut. Alt hva fedrene har kjempet Mødrene har grett Har den herre stille lempet Så vi vant, vi vant vår rett | Norseman, whatsoe’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 sires in fight, God has fashioned in His keeping Till we gained our right. |
| Ja, vi elsker dette landet Som det stiger frem Furet værbitt over vannet Med de tusen hjem Og som fedres kamp har hevet Det av nød til seir Også vi, når det blir krevet For dets fred slår leir Også vi når det blir krevet For dets fred, dets fred slår leir | Yes, we love with fond devotion This our land that looms Rugged, storm-scarred o’er the ocean With her thousand homes. And, as warrior sires have made her Wealth and fame increase, At the call we too will aid her Armed to guard her peace. |
17 mai er jeg så glad i
By Margrethe Munthe
| 17. mai er vi så glad i, moro vi har fra morgen til kveld! Da er det så du, om vi er små du, er vi med likevel. Jeg roper hurra dagen så lang, synger for Norge mangen en sang Og jeg, jeg kan du elske mitt land du, det skal du se en gang | We love 17 May, We have fun from morning to night! That’s how it is, We take part Even if we are small. I shout hurray all day long, sing many a song for Norway And I, I can love my country You, you have to see it once |
Norge i rødt, hvitt og blått
‘Norway in red, white and blue’
Words by Finn Bø, Bias Bernhoft og Arild Feldborg
| Hvorhen du går i li og fjell, en vinterdag, en sommerkveld med fjord og fossevell, fra eng og mo med furutrær Fra havets bryn med fiskevær og til de hvite skjær, møter du landet i trefarvet drakt, svøpt i et gjenskinn av flaggets farveprakt. Se, en hvitstammet bjerk oppi heien, rammer stripen med blåklokker inn mot den rødmalte stuen ved veien, det er flagget som vaier i vind. Ja, så hvit som det hvite er sneen, og det røde har kveldssolen fått, og det blå ga sin farve til breen, det er Norge i rødt, hvitt og blått. | Where’er you go in fields or hills A winter day, a summer eve By fjord and waterfalls From meadows and heaths with pines From oceans shore with fishing grounds And to the white-washed reefs You meet the country in tricolour Wrapped in reflection of the flag’s coloured glow. See the white-stemmed birch on the hillside Framing in the bluebells with ribbons. Put beside the red-painted cottage by the roadside, It’s the flag that waves in the breeze. Yes, as white as the whiteness of snow And the red has the sunset been given And the blue gave its colour to the glacier. That is Norway in Red, White and Blue. |
Welsh Norwegian Society 