Norway’s Birthday

by

17. Mai – Norwegischer Nationalfeiertag

On May 17th 1814 the first Norwegian constitution was passed.
Am 17. Mai 1814 wurde die erste Verfassung Norwegens verabschiedet.

Collage17.mai01Collage17.mai03

Norway is no country of military parades – Great, isn’t it?! The National Holiday is coined by childlike fun, games, and a feeling of togetherness.

Norwegen ist kein Land der Militärparaden. Der Nationalfeiertag ist der kindlichen Freude, dem Spiel und dem Gemeinschaftsgefühl gewidmet.

SoljenterSS

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,

Siri & Selma, Dina & Klausbernd

© pictures and text by Hanne Siebers and Klausbernd Vollmar

130 thoughts

  1. Aus – ganz persönlichen – Gründen 🙂 gefällt mir ja der in Landesflagge dekorierte Hund am allerbsten. Und ein Nationalfeiertag ohne Militär, dafür mit “Kind und Kegel” ist ja sowieso schon einmal eine sehr sympathische Angelgenheit! Einen schönen Feiertag – hoffentlich mit strahlendstem Sonnenschein, wünscht Claudia

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    • Liebe Claudia,
      danke für die lieben Wünsche. Zumindest hier in Norfolk haben wir Wetter vom Feinsten und für Norwegen sieht die Voraussage auch bestens aus.
      Liebe Grüße von
      den grandiosen Vier aus Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Das wusste ich ja gar nicht dass ich geboren war am Norwegischen Nationalfeiertag… Nein, natürlich nicht in 1814, aber doch am 17ten Mai 🙂
    Einen schönen Feiertag euch allen!

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    • DANKE!
      Besonders Dina ist sehr stolz auf ihre Tracht. Die steht ihr auch sehr gut!
      Liebe Grüße an euch beiden in Frankfurt
      die grandiosen Vier aus Cley

      Like

    • Dear Annalena,
      you got it: Siri and Selma will fly to Norway tomorrow. The Oslo Fjord is not that far from here. They surely will have fun and lots of ice cream.
      KRAM xxx to you in Stockholm
      the Fab Four of Cley

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  8. We are celebrating in Longyearbyen tomorrow. Our national costumes are all ready. Do you know that we have lots of sunshine and it’s getting warmer every day, next week we can even compete with you in Cley! 🙂
    Gratulerer med dagen, fra hele familien!
    Per Magnus

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Dear Per Magnus,
      have a great celebration in the very North! After reading your commentary Selma had a look at the weather chart and found out that you are right, it will be warmer in Longyearbyen than in Cley. So have a fine clebration, lots of fun for your whole family
      wishing you
      the Fab Four of Cley xxx
      but it’s sunny here as well 🙂

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    • Thank you, dear Pete.
      Children’s parades at St. George’s Day that would be great! Lots of fun, games, and ice cream 😉
      Love from sunny Cley to you and Ollie
      the Fab Four

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  10. Norway’s national colors are the same as ours but that’s pretty much where the similarities end, as far as the birthday celebrations go! I like the gentle focus on children–the photos capture it so well!

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    • Dear Kerry
      thanks a lot. Well, the Norwegians don’t get so excited about military. One reason is surely they are one of the richest countries in the world and rich rich countries don’t need heroes (as Brecht already wrote) 😉
      Have a happy weekend
      the Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  11. What a wonderful tradition this is. Your captures of these sweet children warms my heart on this chilly Canadian morning. Wishing you all the very best and thank you for putting a smile on my face this morning. 🙂

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  14. Ihr Lieben! Wo ich aufwuchs, hatten wir auch Kinder Paraden und Umzuege. Euer Beitrag brachte sehr liebe Erinnerungen in mir auf. Sehr nette Aufnahmen. Norwegen scheint noch eine heile Welt zu sein. Wuensche Euch ein schoenes Wochenende. Hugs! Veraiconica

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    • Liebe Veronica,
      wenn wir uns recht erinnern, bist du in Hamburg aufgewachsen und dort gab’s auch Kinderparaden und Umzüge? “Zu welchen Anlässen?”, fragen ganz neugierig Siri und Selma.
      Naja, Norwegen sah sich selbst als heile Welt, bis 2011 Anders Behring Breivik dieses Bild zu zerstören suchte. Aber wir fanden es großartig, wie Dinas fellow countrymen darauf reagierten. Norwegen hat eben Kultur z.B. im Vergleich zu den USA, die Attentäter mit der Todesstrafe bestraft. Wir Nordeuropäer können es uns eben leisten, kultiviert zu sein und entsprechend zu handeln.
      Auch dir ein rundum feines Wochenende wünschen
      die gloreichen Vier aus Cley 😉

      Liked by 2 people

    • Lieber Klausbernd!
      Ich bin froh, dass Norwegen sich seine heile Welt nicht zerstoeren liess durch das schlimme Attentat. Ja, Kulture gibt es hier leider nicht und die USA sind auf dem absteigenden Ast. Das es hier keine Kultur gibt sieht man wieder gespiegelt an den Handelsweisen der Menschen.
      Es gibt hier sehr wenig Lebenskultur und vielen Menschen hier fehlt leider die Herzensbildung.
      Die Kinderparaden waren fuer die Freude der Kinder mit sehr huebschen Blumengarlanden und die Maedchen trugen Blumenkraenze im Haar und natuerlich mit Musik. Nach dem Umzug gab es fuer alle Kaffee und Kuchen in einem Gartenrestaurant. War fuer uns Kinder damals ein grosses Ereignis, worauf wir uns freuten.
      Wuensche Euch allen einen schoenen Sonntag! Hugs! Veraiconica

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    • Thank you, dear Diana,
      you are right Norway and Finland are quite young countries in comparison to the central European countries and Denmark (we here in Norfolk have been Danish during the time of the Vikings). But the agepyramid of Norway looks not much better than those of the central European countries.
      Greetings from the sunny sea
      the Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! We are celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday in Canada this weekend. Listening to bagpipers at the Victoria Highland Games. I understand that on of Queen Victoria’s grandchildren occupied the throne of Norway. We are all connected, which is rather comforting! Hugs and more hugs coming your way. 💛⭐️💛

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    • Dear Rebecca,
      we already had forgotten that Olav V (1903-1991), the second King of Norway, was born in Sandringham/Norfolk, not far from where we live. We agree “we are all one” 🙂 as Siri put it. As Selma looked it up Queen Victoria was born May 24, 1819 when we have our big May Bank Holiday.
      There are no special celebrations to commemorate Queen Victoria’s birthday here.
      With a big HUG from
      the Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Lieber Ernst,
      da geben wir Vier dir völlig recht 🙂
      Ja, die Kinder freuen sich darauf wie auf Weihnachten – auch Siri und Selma 🙂 🙂
      Ganz liebe Grüße vom heute sonnigen Cley
      Klausbernd und Dina
      Siri und Selma flatterten mal eben rüber zum Oslofjord, der Luftlinie nicht so weit entfernt ist …

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  20. Beautiful, beautiful photos, I bet Siri and Selma look sooo sweet in their national dresses. I once wore the Norwegian costume, believe it or not 🙂
    And I have also been to the birthday celebrations in Bergen – a long time ago, but I did enjoy them!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Hej Jude
      you are right our beloved Bookfayries look that sweet in their national costumes and Dina as well. Actually we had a picture of Dina wearing her national costume but she didn’t want to publish it. Well, that’s the shy side of her … We can verty well imagine you wearing one of Norway’s national costumes.
      By the way we love Bergen very much 🙂
      All the best and happy Sunday
      the Fab Four of Cley

      Like

  23. A lovely post with some great photos capturing the festivity! Happy Birthday, Norway, from an American living in Bangladesh! I remember in school in the 50’s studying about Norway! It is on my bucket list, but likely won’t happen. Have fun celebrating!

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    • Thanks a lot for your commentary.
      Well, we suppose Norway is just the opposite to Bangladesh: For a long time the richest country in world now, rather cold climate, and people of a cool mentality who are very happy with their country. Norway and Switzerland seem to be the two countries in the world where the people are happiest (concerning a statistics from last month).
      We wish you all the best and send you warm greetings from North Norfolk coast
      the Fab Four of Cley

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    • Yes, for sure the opposite! Bangladesh with mostly poor people, and most people are not very happy with the condition of their country! Thanks for your reply!

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  24. How lovely that it is celebrated a children’s day. I am going to Norway in September, Stockholm for 3 days, as a stop over from Los Angeles to Muenchen. Any special tips what to see, besides the tourist attractions?

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    • Dear Cornelia,
      thanks for your commentary.
      Do you go to Norway or to Stockholm/Sweden?
      Our dear Master lived in Stockholm for quite a while and he liked there the Moderna Muset, the Fram (museum showing Nansen’s ship), and gamla stan, of course. To wander around in gamla stan – meaning old city – is great and if you want to have it more green then the Skansen is an experience (even if it is touristy). You can learn a lot about Sweden’s past there.
      What you have to see in Norway depends on where you are going. It’s quite a long country. But Dina can tell you best the “must see” in Oslo and surroundings.
      Greetings from the sunny coast of North Norfolk
      the Fab Four of Cley

      Like

    • Thank you so much Klausbernd. I only will be in Stockholm/ Sweden, not in Oslo, sorry I kind of mixed up both countries. Thank you so much fro your suggestions. I am so looking forward to this little trip.

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  27. I have been in Oslo for May 17th, celebrating with my Norwegian cousins by watching the parade along Karl Johans Cate before eating in Aker Brygge. It´s a beautiful celebration for all Norwegians, both new and old.

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  28. The festive, joyous mood of Norway’s national day very aptly encapsulated in the smiling faces of little girls. 🙂 Still, the first thing that comes to my mind in this context is Hanns Henny Jahnn (one of Germany’s greatest and yet largely unknown poet-cum-organist) and his story “A Boy Weeps” (“Ein Junge weint”, trans. Gerda Jordan) written when he lived in Norway. http://kebadkenya.blogspot.de/2008/03/hans-henny-jahnn-thirteen-uncanny.html

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    • Thanks for mentioning Hans Henny Jahn. We didn’t know much about him, not even that he lived in Norway from 1915-1918 to escape the WW I as anti-militarist. He even wrote about Norway as his second home.
      We couldn’t find “Ein Junge weint”, but we keep on looking.
      All the best
      the Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Es steht im Band “13 nicht geheure Geschichten”, der noch lieferbar ist. Da er Hamburger war, stehen seine Werke in den hiesigen Bibliotheken, ich selbst besitze deshalb kein Exemplar, das ich euch überlassen könnte.

      “Norwegische Tagebücher” dürften auch interessante Dokumente der Zeitgeschichte sein. Hundert Jahre her … Und der Kaiser hat längst “in den Sack gehaun” … 😉

      Er ist übrigens nicht mit dem Turnvater verwandt, sondern schreibt sich mit Doppel-n. Auch sein Vorname, Hanns. Henny hat er sich selbst getauft.

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    • Vielen Dank für deine Hinweise und Korrekturen.
      Ich muss zugeben, dass ich nur am Rande von ihm las, als ich über Bert Brecht forschte. Ich wusste quasi nichts über ihn, außer dass die beiden Zeitgenossen und antibürgerlich waren.
      Alles Gute
      Klausbernd

      Like

    • Die besten Entdeckungen sind die, über die man rein zufällig stolpert. Sucht man sie bewusst, erfriert man am Nord- oder Südpol. Meistens.

      Der bürgerliche Thomas Mann hielt aber auch viel von HHJ – vielleicht beneidete er ihn darum, dass jener so schön die Sau rauslassen konnte (pardon my French).

      Liked by 1 person

    • Das finde ich sehr spannend, was du über Thomas Mann schreibst, der wie D.H. Lawrence stets seine homosexuelle Neigungen unterdrückte. Du machst einen richtig gespannt auf HHJ; du könntest glatt seine PR Frau sein 😉 Das machst du gut!
      Kb

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Happy birthday to Norway, the “north way.” By coincidence I watched a travel show about Norway this week. The program mentioned that Norway had been under Danish rule and then Swedish rule, before finally becoming independent.

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  30. happy birthday ❤ norway!! lyrics by whitney houston came just into my mind:
    "I believe the children are our future
    Teach them well and let them lead the way
    Show them all the beauty they possess inside
    Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
    Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be"

    Liked by 1 person

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  35. Such a great way to celebrate your country, Dina. We don’t seem able at the moment to celebrate being English without militaristic or nationalistic connotations. We do have a lot of imperial baggage that seems hard to leave behind. Nice to see children rather than soldiers on parade.

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    • Good evening, dear Laurence,
      we absolutely agree with you! Isn’t it great to make Norway’s birthday a children’s day 🙂
      Dina is very proud of her country.
      Have a happy week
      the Fab Four of Cley

      Like

  36. The military parades lead world to distractions. The most powerful parade of any country is the parade which shows how people and especially children of that country happy are. Your pictures show that Norway is on the right way to this main purpose of being. Norwegian people have to be very proud of their country. Beautiful happy children pictures!

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  38. Ihr Lieben, ich bin zwar etwas verspätet und trotzdem gratuliere ich herzlich zum Nationalfeiertag Nowegens. Die farbenfrohen Kinderbilder Bilder zeugen von grosser Freude, ein Fest also speziell für Selma und Siri!

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    • Liebe Martina
      Siri und Selma kamen völlig begeistert heute morgen nach Hause geflattert. Sie mussten sooo viel erzählen, dass ihre Münder gar nicht still standen. Jetzt machen wir gleich Essen und dann geht’s heute früh ins Bett.
      Herzlichen Dank für deine Gratulation 🙂 und liebe Grüße vom Meer
      the Fab Four of Cley

      Like

    • You’re welcome Klausbernd. There’s nothing more comforting than having a good dog by your side. Hope the seas aren’t too rough.
      Cheers
      Laurie.

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    • That only means one thing, bad weather on the way. 😦 Well at least it did when I was a boy. We lived up in Cumbria on the coast and boy didn’t that wind get cold coming of the Irish sea. Hope I’m wrong and the weather treats you kindly.
      Cheers
      Laurie.

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    • No. no, dear Laurie, we had a marvellous day today: really warm and sunny. I worked with my dear Bookfayries from morning to now in the garden. But after blogging a bit I will relax with a drink 🙂
      We have been on a holiday on the Cumbrian coast, well, the climate was much, much more harsh than it’s here. The North Norfolk coast is quite mild, although Hammond Innes called it “Arctic Coast” in “Isvik”.
      I wish you a relaxing evening as well
      Klausbernd and the rest of the gang 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Klausbernd, I’m glad your day stayed fine and sunny. Sounds like a fulfilling day, especially finishing with a drink. 🙂 I was born in Barrow-in-Furness, at the top end of Morecombe Bay. A most inhospitable stretch of water at times. It’s taken the lives of many a winkle picker over the years. I’ll keep relaxing, cheers until next time.
      Laurie.

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    • Good morning, dear Laurie
      you wouldn’t believe it but we have been to Barrow-in-Furness when we visited the Lakes and stayed in Ulverston for two days last year. Small world, isn’t it!
      Today it’s quite cloudy but warm and no wind.
      We wish you great holidays – here are the tourists already rushing in …
      Cheers
      the Fab Four of Cley

      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good afternoon Fab Four, well it is a small world. Barrow isn’t the vibrant, ship building town it used to be. I don’t think anywhere is like it used to be. 🙂 However it’s still my home, funny isn’t it I’ve been out here for 54 years yet I still think of over there as home. I’ve had a quick look at Cley on google maps and it looks like a nice place. keep those tourists coming in. I’ve been cutting firewood this afternoon, we have a bitter southerly wind blowing.
      Cheers
      Laurie.

      Like

  46. Belated Happy 17 Mai! I’ll never forget the annual celebrations with our Norwegian friends when we lived in Addis Ababa. One of the annual highlights at our “Nordic Club” 🙂 Wonderful post!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Dear Tiny,
      wow, celebrating Norway’s birthday in Addis Ababa – quite exotic …
      Thank you for your kind commentary and have a happy weekend
      the Fab Four of Cley

      Like

  49. Hi Dina, love your blog and photography! I’m Canadian and my husband is Norwegian – and it’s lovely to see your photos of the beautiful country! We live in Canada, but do get to Norway for visits!

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    • Thank you very much for your commentary 🙂
      Our dear Dina goes home to Norway at least once a year as well. She has a lot of relatives there she visits.
      And our dear Master used to work in Montreal for several years and loved being in Canda.
      We wish you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Excellent, so we’re neighbours then! 🙂 Sarpsborg is just around the corner from Fredrikstad were I was born. I spent my first term in the Sarpsborg hospital and very much enjoyed staying in the beautiful town for half a year. Next wednesday I’m heading North, very much looking forward to seeing family and friends in Fredrikstad again. The weather forecast is very good; 30°C and lots of sun, just the right thing for our hytte in Hvaler.
      Thank you so much for following our blog, it’s highly appreciated! 🙂
      Have a wonderful summer, Johnny and Mel!
      Big hug to you in Canada,
      Dina x

      Liked by 1 person

  52. Pingback: Home | The World according to Dina

  53. Reblogged this on greenygrey3 and commented:
    Reflections Coincidence 4: As well as this weekend being the first anniversary of my ambition ending, next month is the tenth anniversary of my first international one, the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromso. While all my marathons have had nice nature, running alongside Arctic fjords was sensationally surreal, and this morning I saw this blog post celebrating Norway’s birthday this week. Moreover, last night I watched Dead Snow 2, with some great Norwegian/Scandinavian dark humour!

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