The origin of Norway’s National Holiday
The Norwegian National Day, referred to as Nasjonaldagen or syttende mai (seventeenth of May) in Norway, is a public holiday celebrated on May 17. The day dates back to King Christian Frederik signing the constitution on May 17, 1814. This marked the beginning of a short period of independence for Norway before the union with Sweden that was established later that same year. The union was dissolved on October 26, 1905, and Norway has celebrated its national day ever since.
The day is celebrated in great style not only in Norway but also in Stockholm, where people gather and march through the city center to Skansen. At Skansen, the day is celebrated with music, performances, and speeches at the Solliden stage, as well as activities for children and adults.
The May 17th Parade
Participating in a parade on this date has been a tradition in Norway since the mid-19th century, with a special focus on the involvement of children. The children’s parade consists of marching bands, festively dressed children, and Norwegian flags everywhere.
Every year, several thousand May 17th parades take place across Norway, varying in size from small village parades to the larger celebrations in Oslo that include tens of thousands of participants. Celebrations are also held in Norwegian communities abroad. The children’s parades follow designated routes and are organized so that students walk class by class. In Oslo, the parade passes, among other places, the Royal Palace, where the Norwegian royal family stands on the balcony and waves to the children.
