Happy Birthday
It's 17th of May, which is considered the birthday of Norway and it's common to say Happy Birthday to other people
As an Norwegian, 17th May will always have a special place in my hearth, even now, when I live roughly 9699 kilometers (6026 miles) away from Norway
17th of May is considered Norway's birthday and is celebrated big nationwide in Norway and around the world, wherever you've Norwegian people
Embassy celebration
As I've lived abroad for a great portion of my life. I've experienced 17th of May celebration in many different ways
Last few times, before the pandemic. I've celebrated it with the Norwegian Embassy in the Philippines. Where we would gather in the club house, of the village where the Ambassador of Norway lives in the Philippines
There we would have Norwegian styled food, candies, desserts and soda. There would be speeches, singing, games and parade
Games would be traditional games, such as sack race, horse shoe throwing and balancing an potato (or egg) on a spoon you're holding with your mouth, then run a race without dropping it
Parade
17th of May Parade is a big thing in Norway, but in the Norwegian one. It's the people who walk in the parade. In Norway, you'd have school corps at different points of the parade, playing music. Then you'd have the school student's walk together, class by class. With a banner of their school and often a seperat banner for their grade
After the school, you'd have the general public who want to walk in the parade. You're of course welcome to stand at the side of the road and watch the parade
You normally have three parades on 17th of May:
1) The main parade for the city / local area
2) One for the local school
3) One for the Russ. Russ are the graduating students of videregående (upper secondary school), who will wear a special uniform for the month of May, indicating they're Russ. Russ uniforms have different colours, depending on what education you're taking
Why 17th of May?
The constitution was signed at Eidsvoll on 17 May 1814. Which decelerated Norway to be an independent country
Norway was initially it's own independed country, then the plague roamed Europe and wiped out large parts of Norway. Causing Norway to go under Denmark rule for a time. After a devastating defeat by Denmark and Norway in the Napoleon wars. It was feared we'd be consumed by Sweden, so the constitution was made and declaring Norway an independent country
Norway and Sweden was in union until the union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905 and Prince Carl of Denmark was chosen to be King of an independent Norway, under the name Haakon VII
This is a rough retelling of the newer history of Norway
