HISTORY: "Syttende Mai" - in
Norwegian means "the 17th of May". When Norwegians
mention the day they are referring to their annual
celebration of the signing of the Norwegian
constitution on May 17, 1814, in Eidsvoll, Norway.
Individual cities in Norway may have different
traditions for their parade. The parade inn Oslo
includes some 60,000 children as well as marching
bands. Trondheim has two parades: A morning children's
parade (Barnetoget) with children from the city's
schools (20,00 children marched in 2014!). An
afternoon "Citizens Parade" (Borgertoget) where
firefighters, sports teams, students associations
and other associations are represented. One of our
members marched in this parade for the
200th anniversary of the signing of the constitution
in 2014.
Chicago's
Syttende Mai events can't possibly be like the magnitude
of its counterpart in Oslo, Norway, depicted above with
100,000 people including children from over 100 schools,
every year the Norwegian National League hosts a parade at Hodges Park in Park
Ridge, Illinois, and a banquet in
celebration of Norway's Constitution Day in May. The
parade is normally on the Sunday after Mother's Day.
PRE-PARADE: Begin at 11:00 AM and include
activities for children, vendors, and
refreshments.
PARADE: As in Norway,
anyone can ask to participate in the parade sponsored
by the Norwegian National League. The
parade itself starts at 1:00PM and lasts about
1 hour with viewers lining the streets often
cheering marchers, especially ones where they
might have a connection to them.
POST-PARADE: After the parade festivities continue in Hodges Park along with entertainment, awards, speeches, food, information tables and lots of photo opportunities on this fun day. Traditional dancers perform and you get to join at the end in the "grand march". Students receiving a scholarship or award from the League typically receive them in a ceremony during the post-parade festivities.
BANQUET:
The "BANQUET" is
now a "LUNCHEON". There
are so many places on the NNL website that it will
be a while before each reference to the banquet is
changed to a reference to a luncheon. The
League presents a banquet in celebration of Norway's
Constitution Day in May. Often held the day before the
Syttende Mai (Constitution Day). The banquet is
usually held at a nice venue such as a country club
and features a Norwegian themed meal, entertainment
and a guest speaker.
Minnekirken
NorCham Chicago
