Constitution Day!

It's May 17th, Syttande Mai, or Constitution Day, a day to celebrate the signing of Norway's constititution on May 17, 1814, which declared Norway an independent country, even though Norway was still unified with Sweden until 1905.

The boys marched in parades and sang in the morning and then celebrated at school with games, cakes, hotdogs, waffles, and ice cream.

Before the parade starts with headmaster Espen Lange, Mark, Walter, Hilde, her son Sigmund, her daughter Ingrid and friend.


Martha with Terje and Hilde's daughter Ingrid and friend.


Graduating seniors wearing their red overalls.


The banner for Presteheia Skole


Walter holding the 4th grade sign in the parade


Mark waving on syttande mai.



Guitar player leading his students in song. Children compete for prizes based on how well they sing.


Hilde and Terje, parents of Sigurd, Mark's friend. They kindly took us to the parade and showed us the best spots to stand.


The mother of one of Terje and Hilde's friends. I loved her bunad, which I think is from Telemark.






Aunt Jenny and Uncle Dan, Mark and Walter on Constitution Day


Joyous Dan. It's syttande mai!


Mark, Walter, Sigurd, Ingrid, in front of a statue of the poet Henrik Wergeland, who is credited with making Syttande mai a celebratory day for the children rather than a military display.



Mark with Start player Christer Kleiven.


Johannes' Dad, a former Start player, in his bunad demonstrating his skills on stilts



Dad not having so much luck on stilts