On 17 May we are commemorating the signing of the constitution on that date in 1814. In Norway,聽the Constitution Day is聽huge.
Norway鈥檚 17 May celebration is a party for everyone, especially the children. Before they take to the 
streets,聽many will gather for a 17 May breakfast聽鈥� often a potluck with friends and neighbors 鈥� with freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and for the grown-ups,聽champagne.
Children鈥檚 parades then take place across the country, and led by marching bands they walk through their communities. The largest of the traditional parades attract tens of thousands of people waving flags and shouting 鈥渉urra!鈥�. In Oslo, the parade is greeted by the royal family who are waving tirelessly to the crowds from the Royal Palace聽balcony.
Nationalistic? Perhaps, but the non-militaristic and generally joyous atmosphere, in addition to the children鈥檚 special place in the celebrations, makes the day a largely uncontroversial affair.听The focus is mostly on eating huge amounts of ice cream聽and hot dogs, listening to speeches, and playing games at local聽schools.
The day is also an opportunity for EVERONE to show off their 鈥渂unad鈥�, Norway鈥檚 traditional costumes. There are hundreds of different ones, with colors and styles聽indicating ancestry and geographical belonging.听
This Sunday, May 19, the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church (Mindekirken) will replicate on a smaller scale the experience and celebrations in Norway, with a program full of family friendly fun including church service, parades, games and bouncy houses for children, folk dances, many many bunads and loads of ice cream.
