On May 17, the Norwegian flag is hoisted across the country. Every city and town organise celebration activities including a parade. In Oslo the “children’s” parade follows a route that takes it past the palace, where the royal family stand on a palace balcony and greet the passing throng. Norwegians everywhere wear their best clothes and many wear the highly embroidered national costumes, called “bunader”, with different distinctive styles for every region of the country.
Brief history
After around 400 years as a self-governing and independent state, Norway became aligned briefly with Sweden and then more endurably with Denmark in the 14th century. Following the end of the Napoleonic wars, the Treaty of Kiel transferred Norway to Sweden in 1814. However, Norwegians had begun to feel that they would like to be independent, and a popularly elected National Assembly met at the Eidsvold Iron Works outside Christiania (Oslo) in the spring of 1814 to work out a constitution.
One of the representatives described this Assembly as the following: “Here was to be seen a selection of men from all parts of the realm, of all ranks and dialects, men from court circles as well as landowners come together in no set order for the sacred purpose of laying the foundations for the rebirth of the nation.”
Although Norway at that time was an impoverished land of less than one million inhabitants lying on the outskirts of Europe, these visionary historical leaders used inspiration from recent events in France and the US to write the most liberal constitution in Europe at the time. This constitution did not only do away with all nobility and guaranteed the right to think, write and print what one wished, it also gave every man who owned a piece of land the right to vote. After six weeks of debate, the new Norwegian Constitution was signed 17 May, 1814.
Following this historic day, Norway did enter into a union with Sweden that lasted almost another 100 years, until Norway finally achieved complete independence in 1905.
Bergen and the 17th of May
The Norwegian flag was designed by Fredrik Meltzer from Bergen in1821. In 1864, Bjornstjerne Bjornson completed the lyrics of the Norwegian national anthem, “Ja, vi elsker dette landet” (Norway, We Love Our Land). Richard Nordaak , Bjørnson’s cousin, composed the music.
Bergen has its own song, which is also sung on special occasions. It was written by Johan Nordahl Bruns (1745-1816). Bergen has another unique tradition which is very much a part of the 17th of May festivities; the drum corps. Most communities have one; some clubs are over 100 years old. Each corps has a unique rhythm, and when more than one sound together, the cacophony is certainly festive!
Bergen is also renowned for the enthusiasm of its 17th of May celebrations. Literally thousands of people participate either lining the streets or participating in one of the two long parades. One parade includes school groups and school-based organisations; the other includes official organisations, and free-time activity groups. Both have several thousand marchers.
Anyone travelling to Norway, and Bergen, in particular, in the spring, should try to ensure that their travel dates include the 17th of May, it is an unforgettable experience. As Knut Mykland, a professor at the Department of History at the University of Bergen wrote in 1996:
“There are still many countries which have not yet attained national independence. There are still many peoples who continue to live under dictatorship and despotic forms of government. Viewed against such a background, the ideals from Eidsvoll still retain their relevance and significance, representing values which are able to give the 17th of May celebrations a deeper meaning.”