Today is the 100th anniversary of Norway's independence from Sweden in 1905 and the signing of the Norweigan Constitution in 1814. It's celebrated yearly with two parades in most cities and towns throughout Norway, one for children and one for students graduating from high school (Russ). Through a Christian group we're part of here, Rebekah and I had prime placement in front of the Royal Palace. We even waved to the Queen!
We spent most of our morning in front of the Palace watching the parades go by. While they were nice, it got a bit repetitive after a while. One can only watch so many marching bands and children waving flags. There was a spirited attempt at The Village Peoples' YMCA, but that was probably the highlight of the parade music. At 1pm, we went to Domkirke, a large church downtown, for a traditional May 17th service. Afterward, we went to my co-workers', Lynn and Lars Thomas, apartment for lunch with some other co-workers. It was a long, fun day. As my sister Jen would say, The dogs are barking
(my feet hurt).
One of the most interesting parts of the May 17th festivities is Russ, seniors graduating from high school. From around May 1st to May 17th, they celebrate the end of their primary school education with over two weeks of mischief. Part of the tradition is the Russ bus, a bus purchased by students as their transportation. The busses are decorated, filled with speakers, and travel the city waking poor slumbering souls at all hours of the night.
Another cultural gem is the traditional Norwegian costume, the bunad. These costumes are normally only worn for special occasions, such as weddings, funerals, christenings, and, of course, Constitution Day. Each county in Norway has its own style and colors, adding a bit more life to the May 17th parades.
I've been wanting to be a part of the May 17th celebration since I first came to Norway two years ago and today didn't disappoint. One of the best things about living in a foreign country is learning the culture from the inside. And today I got one more cultural notch on my belt. Check out some pictures from our day in our image gallery.
